SARV

While the police and authorities in Enga where trying to keep peace and calm in the province, a horrendous act of human rights abuse and violence went under the radar as mayhem from election disputes took centre stage.

The inhumane treatment of nine women by SARV perpetrators wasn’t given as much prominence as desired by the Catholic Diocese of Wabag and Caritas PNG.

The women were accused of using sorcery or sanguma powers to kill even on speculations only.

The horrific attack resulted in four women losing their lives and five sustaining serious injuries.

The survivors have been in the care of Caritas Provincial staff and volunteers under the administration of the Catholic Diocese of Wabag.

They say this is one of the worst human rights violations on record in Papua New Guinea. 

“We will continue to offer them vital care until their imminent reintegration when considered safe to do so,” says Caritas Director, Mavis Tito.  

The video, titled ‘Pathways to Justice – Strongim sindaun bilong femili’, is a documentary that showcases the legal and support options made available for survivors of family and sexual violence in PNG and how the people and services are working hard to keep them safe.

Commissioner Manning in his speech told the Consultative Implementation and Monitoring Council (CIMC) and the Family and Sexual Violence Action Committee (FSVAC) that the constabulary is committed in addressing Gender Based Violence (GBV) in the country.

Amendments to the Criminal Code to criminalise purported seers or ‘glasman’ and ‘glasmeri’, their activities, and those who engage their services in the perpetration of Sorcery Accused Related Violence (SARV), was proposed to Parliament by East Sepik Governor, Allan Bird and passed unanimously on voices.

This is one of the results from the work of the bi-partisan parliamentary committee from which the amended Criminal Code will now play a big role in addressing SARV in the prosecution or the fining of these seers.

The PNG NRI Spotlight Volume 15, Issue 2 ‘Possible ways to address challenges associated with reintegration of survivors of sorcery accusation-related violence’, highlights options that can be used in assisting survivors of sorcery accusation in Papua New Guinea. The report was put together by William Kipongi, Project Research Officer under NRI’s Building Safer Communities Research Program.

The incident took place in Pawa-Yamo Village, Kagua District, Southern Highlands province.

“Everyone will be identified and arrested. Even if it means we have to arrest every member of a clan or tribe we will do so. This madness has got to stop. We are in the 21st century and such barbaric actions must be quickly stopped with the full force of the law,” Manning said.

He added that there are no innocent bystanders.

“Everyone who was at the scene and did nothing to stop the tortures are just as guilty as the ones who tortured the women.”

The study, based on research in the Enga Province, found that police and magistrates intervene only in a few of the cases. It was usually a local leader or a pastor or religious figure that intervenes.

“When mediation is unsuccessful and violence ensues, it is most often a pastor or a religious figure, village leader or immediate family member who intervene to try to stop the violence,” states PNG NRI Issues Paper No.37 on Sorcery accusation-related violence (SARV) in Enga Province.