JAYAPURA – The Papua Provincial Government has presented the 2025 Gender Champion Awards to 15 heads of Regional Apparatus Organizations in recognition of their strong commitment to implementing Gender Mainstreaming within the regional government.

The awards were personally handed over by the Deputy Governor of Papua, Aryoko Rumaropen, at the courtyard of the Papua Governor’s Office on Monday (November 10, 2025). The assessment was conducted by the Papua Provincial Office for Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection, based on each OPD’s performance and policies in integrating gender perspectives into development programs.

The Deputy Governor expressed his appreciation to the award recipients for their consistent application of gender mainstreaming principles. He also emphasized the need for broader implementation across all regional institutions.

“This year, 15 Regional Apparatus Organizations received the award. We hope the number will increase in 2026 and be evenly distributed across all agencies. We want the role of gender mainstreaming to be strengthened in every government program,” Aryoko said.

He stressed that gender mainstreaming is not merely a sectoral initiative, but an integral component of the region’s development agenda. Aryoko noted that the Papua Provincial Government continues to strengthen cross-sector collaboration to accelerate gender equality and women’s empowerment.

The Gender Champion program is expected to motivate government agencies to establish and activate Gender Mainstreaming Focal Points in each institution, ensuring that gender equity and equality are increasingly reflected in the planning and implementation of development programs throughout Papua. ***