International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)

Speaking at the 2nd Pacific Islands Roundtable on International Humanitarian Law (IHL) in Apia Tuesday, Arrigoni told delegates even though there are currently no armed conflicts in the Pacific region, the Bougainville conflict constituted a non-international armed conflict. 

Facilitated by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the training has been prepared according to the assessment conducted at workplaces on the performances of health workers during their duties.

It has been identified that many of the procedure and practices conducted by health workers in prison do not meet health standards and the PNG Correctional Service is fortunate to have a detention doctor from ICRC facilitate a training on detainee in detention treatment and care.

Mark Kessler, head of the ICRC Mission in Port Moresby, said rates of domestic and sexual violence were concerning in PNG but the police’s new FSVUs were a step in the right direction.

“Survivors of sexual and domestic violence in PNG often feel like they have nowhere to turn,” he said. “We hope that once these units are up and running, those affected will gain the confidence to seek justice and support from the police.”

Kessler was speaking following the ICRC’s donation of 10 printers and cameras for 10 of the FSVUs, of which 17 have already been established.