The statutory office of Director-Child Welfare is responsible for the Child Welfare Branch within the Department For Community Development.

As one of DFCD’s program branches, the Child Welfare Branch strives to do its part by carrying out the Department’s role to develop, promote and deliver community services programmes for Integral Human Development. Specifically, the Child Welfare Branch has statutory responsibilities as prescribed by the Lukautim Pikinini Act (LPA) and other related family laws as well as the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) articles to protect women and children from all forms of violence, abuse and neglect.

In 2007, as a result of the National Executive Council endorsement of the first national early childhood care and development policy, the Child Welfare Branch’s role has extended to ensure improved childhood care and development opportunities for all children aged to six that are not at school. The Branch also plays advisory roles and offers technical support to the Provincial Welfare Offices.

The Branch’s key functions are:

• Child Welfare
• Database and Information
• Child Welfare Council
• General Welfare Services
• Early Childhood Care and Development
• Technical assistances to Provincial Welfare Offices

A significant focus of the Child Welfare Branch’s activities is raising awareness through the media, workshops and other training on issues affecting children in the country; and working, in partnership, with churches and other non-government organisations to effectively implement meaningful child protection, adoption, child maintenance policies and processes.

Moreover, the Child Welfare Branch is taking a leadership role, working with UNICEF partners, in implementing specific programmes and establishing a national database on child protection and orphans and vulnerable children. Since 2006, the Child Welfare Branch has worked on the establishment of this database with Eastern Highlands, Western Highlands, Simbu, Manus and East Sepik provinces.

Currently, the Child Welfare Branch is undertaking a major programme of work in implementing the LPA, following legislative amendments in 2007, increasing the focus on orphans and vulnerable children and the establishment of a national database on child protection.

In 2006/07, the Branch’s biggest achievements were:

• the finalising of a draft LPA that was subsequently passed 86 votes to 0 in 2007;
• the completion of the administrative database;
• re-establishing the National Child Welfare Council of Papua New Guinea; and
• securing National Executive Council endorsement of the Early Childhood Care and Development Policy.

In 2008, the Child Welfare Branch intends to institute a central database on Child Protection, establish three provincial child welfare committees and complete a revised Child Protection Training Manual.

There are nine staff and the Director-Child Welfare that manages the branch.

The Child Welfare Branch can be reached on telephone number: 325 9893, fax: 325 0133 or email on isalatiel@pngfamilies.gov.pg