EU Ambassador visits Southern Highlands to observe UNDP's peacebuilding efforts

The two-day mission highlighted the work of community-based peace mediators trained through the EU–UNDP Partnership on Strengthening Insider Mediation.

September 12, 2026

The mission focused on meetings with EU and UNDP supported insider mediators from Hela and Southern Highlands Provinces

UNDP Papua New Guinea/Juho Valta

12 September, Mendi, Southern Highlands Province – The European Union Ambassador to Papua New Guinea, H.E. Erika Hasznos, and Deputy Ambassador Stéphanie Vaddé visited Southern Highlands Province this week to observe the results of UNDP-supported peacebuilding efforts and engage with community peace mediators from Hela and Southern Highlands Provinces.

The two-day mission focused on the EU–UNDP Partnership on Strengthening Insider Mediation, which supports community members to develop the skills needed to prevent, manage and mediate conflicts in their communities.

Since 2025, the programme has trained 65 community members, including 27 women, from conflict-affected areas across Hela and Southern Highlands Provinces.

Aloysius John, 26, shared how the programme enabled him to transform from a former youth combatant to a peacebuilder

UNDP Papua New Guinea/Juho Valta

During the first day of the mission, Ambassador Hasznos met with insider mediators in Mendi, who shared experiences of the skills they had gained through the programme and how they have applied them in their communities. The mediators have used these skills to help resolve eight conflicts involving 14 clans across Hela and Southern Highlands Provinces. The discussions highlighted the important role that community members can play in preventing conflicts from escalating and helping communities find locally led pathways towards peace.

The Ambassador also joined a dinner with women mediators supported through the programme. The women shared their experiences of participating in conflict mediation and discussed ways to strengthen women’s role in peacebuilding across the Highlands Region. They also reflected on how the skills they have gained can help communities maintain peace as Papua New Guinea prepares for its next General Elections in 2027.

While addressing members of the Hupa community, Ambassador Hasznos, spoke of Europe's own history with conflict

UNDP Papua New Guinea/Juho Valta

On the second day of the mission, Ambassador Hasznos met with community members from Hupa, Southern Highlands Province, where insider mediators trained through the programme successfully helped mediate a peace agreement between two clans in May 2025. The conflict had lasted for close to 20 years and displaced more than 5,000 people from their homes.

Community members shared accounts of how the peace agreement has changed their daily lives and discussed the challenges of sustaining peace over the long term. They also shared their perspectives on how the European Union could continue supporting peacebuilding efforts in the region.

The Ambassador and Deputy Ambassador with members of the Hupa community in Mendi

UNDP Papua New Guinea/Juho Valta

Speaking to the residents of Hupa, Ambassador Hasznos highlighted the European Union’s own experience of building peace following centuries of conflict between European countries.

“For centuries, there were lots of wars among European countries. However, over the last 80 years, there has been no war among the 27 countries of the European Union. This is why we have come as far as Papua New Guinea and the Highlands Region, because we would like to see it everywhere. And we know based on our own example that it is possible to have it everywhere. And this is why we are determined to work with our UN partners, the national and local government, and with all of you to create peace, prosperity and a future for all the children here,” Ambassador Hasznos said.

The mission underscored the value of investing in local peacebuilding capacity and supporting community members to take an active role in preventing and resolving conflicts.