A/HRC/33/10 strategies and the establishment of a multisectoral technical working group mandated to develop a sexual and gender-based violence strategy, resulting in the development of the new Gender-Based Violence National Strategy (2015-2025), which was in its final stages of Cabinet approval. 25. Papua New Guinea was also in the process of reviewing its laws to protect women and girls against discrimination and gender-based violence and to foster gender equality and empowerment; that included the ongoing work related to harmonization of domestic laws with the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. 26. In 2013, the National Public Service had established the Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Policy, which was a platform for mainstreaming and empowering women and girls within the public service. It was also aimed at protecting women and girls from gender-based violence, abuse and exploitation in professional settings. 27. The delegation also referred to the establishment of the Women’s Micro Bank and the National Development Bank as important achievements in empowering women in business leadership and decision-making. Also, in partnership with development partners such as the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-Women) and Australia, the “Safe Cities Free of Violence against Women and Girls” initiative had been promoted at markets and on public transport for women and girls. 28. In the context of women’s political representation, leadership and decision-making in Parliament and the lower levels of government and administration in Papua New Guinea, the delegation underlined the positive progress made, including measures to support gender equality and empowerment, the development of a constitutional amendment for equality and participation to increase women’s representation in Parliament and the Bill on Equality and Participation, which was pending in Parliament. The Organic Law on Provincial and Local-Level Governments already provided for the nomination of women to be represented at the provincial and local levels. Moreover, in 2013, the National Council of Women Act was enacted, providing for equal participation of women in political and public affairs. 29. Since 2012, Papua New Guinea had three elected female leaders to the National Parliament, one of whom was a Cabinet Minister holding the portfolio that dealt with women and girls’ affairs and another was a Governor of one of the most populous provinces in the country. At the provincial and local government levels, there had been a marked increase in women in leadership positions. At the judicial level, the number of female judges appointed to the higher courts had also increased from one to five since before 2011. While positive progress was being made in that area, further efforts were needed. 30. On the issue of sorcery-related killings, a multi-stakeholder approach had been taken, in addition to the repeal of the 1971 Sorcery Act in 2012 and the enactment of a related law in 2014 that criminalized killings related to sorcery. The passing of that law had to be supported by other appropriate measures, including advocacy and awareness-raising. 31. The National Action Plan against Sorcery- and Witchcraft-related Violence had been approved in 2015 and further supported by the establishment of national and provincial committees to ensure implementation of both the Law and the Plan. 32. Papua New Guinea was also making efforts to respect the rights of children, including the adoption of the Lukautim Pikinini (Child) (Amendment) Act 2014, enacted to strengthen the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child in the country. Papua New Guinea had also enacted the Juvenile Justice Act in 2014 to ensure that child offenders, particularly girls, were protected and to rehabilitate and reintegrate them into society for a productive and healthy life. 6 GE.16-12009