Victims of sorcery allegations or related violence can go to the National Court and apply for enforcement of human rights.
Human rights judge, Justice David Cannings, said no person should be subjected to this sort of intimidation (sorcery-related violence) or terrible events that are being reported.
Sorcery is a criminal matter, but it can also be a civil matter under human rights.
“So if you’re suspected to be a sorcerer, and you’ve been subjected to torture, or mistreatment, you can come to the court and apply for enforcement of human rights for you, the alleged sorcerer, to be free of this intimidation, threats, assaults, from other members of your community who have come up with that allegation.
“As we all know, we have a big problem in PNG. People taking the law into their own hands and going after suspected sorcerers.
“It’s a huge problem.”
The judge said it could be treated as a criminal matter or as an application for enforcement of human rights.
(File pic of the wounds of a six-year-old sorcery accusation related violence victim)