International Organization for Migration (IOM)

The 1-tok kaunselin helpim lain is managed by ChildFund Papua New Guinea and has been operational since 2015, providing a 24-hour telephone counselling service to survivors of gender-based violence, including child protection and trafficking in persons (TiP) across Papua New Guinea.

At the request of ChildFund Papua New Guinea, IOM delivered sessions to hotline staff in coordination with the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and A21.

Guala, Kikita and Tigibi in Hela Province, and Munihu, Pambal, Megi and Yame in Southern Highlands Province, have been involved in these peace efforts.

Through financial assistance from United Nations Peacebuilding Fund (UN PBF), IOM's support to these communities includes training for gender-inclusive community facilitation teams and local authorities, technical assistance in developing and operationalising community action plans, and material assistance to execute selected community-led priority projects.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) says it does not have a separate facility to accommodate and act as a safe house for these victims but it is using current facilities like those of the family and sexual violence unit.

Several ‘Meri Seif’ houses across the city are also used to accommodate these victims but they are only kept for up to two weeks, which is now a challenge trafficking victims face.

This issue was raised during the three-day workshop facilitated by IOM and the Department of Justice and Attorney-General, or DJAG. This workshop ends today.

This act has truly become a global threat to vulnerable men, women and children. It has become a wrong that affects millions of people every year.

A three-day workshop is being conducted by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) for police investigators and prosecutors.

The objective of the workshop is to enhance and identify cases of human trafficking in PNG following the increased instances of trafficking in the country.