Sorcery Related Violence: Ending Violence against Women
Introduction
Why is
Sorcery/witchcraft a problem for people in Papua New Guinea? Sorcery and
witchcraft beliefs have affected our
life and the way we think and perceive things in relation to other people in
our society. As such, sorcery/witchcraft is something that is very real for us
Papa New Guineans. It is experienced every day and its activity becomes normal
to all in our society. Accepting the reality of sorcery/witchcraft as normal in
everyday life makes us affirm it as an institutionalized reality. It becomes
part and parcel of the community. The witchcraft beliefs and practices are
deeply rooted in the social structure of the society. Thus, it becomes a way of
life that is affirmed by our beliefs and actions of our people.
Why violence
against women
In PNG women are the targeted victims of sorcery related violence.
There are many reasons why women in PNG are always victims of sorcery related
violence. Women are seen as second to men in PNG society. Culturally women are
not important and their status less recognised, except that women in Guinea
Islands where matrilineal society is practiced women’s status is recognised in
the society. Women are victim because they are physical weak and defenceless
when it comes to violence.
Sorcery related violence is a serious concern right now in PNG
because of constant physical violence and killing that involves against women
and children. Sorcery related violence against women are all against human
rights, unacceptable and must be stopped. Women must be respected as human
beings and have equal rights as men.
The high prevalence cases of sorcery related violence against
women in PNG needs direct intervention from relevant government agencies and
other organizations such as concern NGOs, Churches, and international
humanitarian organizations.
Most efforts by these organizations to
date have focused on saving victims of sorcery related violence against women
and their effort has help many women by saving their lives. In most cases, the
responses to victims/survivors of sorcery related violence are limited with most
women lacking access to basic supports, justice and resource in cases of
violence. There are many unreported cases where women are victims and are
killed if there is no intervention to prevent them from further causality.
The fast and current political scenario
has left the rural population (85%) miss out on many of the basic government
services. They lack access to good roads, bridges, schools and health services.
They are denied of having equal opportunities to participate fully in national
development and governance, and they have very low levels of cash income per
annum, which is the most common indicator of poverty used for international
comparisons. Poverty and other socio-economic factors have driven our people
further to engage in many unfavourable activities to make ends meet. The
increasing growth of sorcery, cult and witchcraft practices and the related
accusations and killings today are some of the symptoms of political ignorance
and government inaction by not providing basic services to rural areas.
The Need for
Awareness of the Repelling of the Sorcery Act (Repeal 2013)
The
need for awareness of the repealing of the Sorcery Act 1971 (Sorcery [Repeal]) Bill 2013 is one area that needs
attention. The repeal, though welcomed by many, is not seen as enough.
At the same time, there is concern that sorcery-related violence might go
underground, with killing done more secretly. Since the repeal of the Sorcery Act, village courts no longer
have a role in sorcery-related violence, though some continue to deal with such
cases. Whether the repeal of the Sorcery
Act will have the desired effect of reducing violence is not yet evident.
The lack of knowledge about this repeal, and the lack of access to justice,
means that, in the short term, prosecutions for the murder of people accused of
sorcery are not likely.
Work
in-collaboration with law enforcement agencies (police and village court
authorities) to prevent victims, arrest and charge perpetrators of violence,
and how they can help ensure the safety of victims. Established and
strengthened relationship with police and service providers to effectively
responses to violence against women. Other organizations of Ending Violence
against Women and relevant government agencies could do is to launch public
rallies, campaign, and awareness in schools addressing issue of violence
against women and human rights. Among the issue, awareness of Repealing of the
Sorcery Act 1971 (Sorcery [Repeal]) Bill 2013 will be helpful for general
public and targeted groups to understand, emphasizing on the repeal that
sorcery and sorcery related violence is criminal in nature and anyone found
accusing others and involving in sorcery related violence against others,
especially women are guilty of the offence and will be prosecuted. After the
repealing of the Sorcery Act in 2013, so far we have not seen any perpetrators
brought to justice for sorcery related violence against women, yet we have seen
sorcery related killings against women recently.
How to deal with
Sorcery related violence in PNG
In PNG, relevant government agencies like Department of Justice,
Department of Community Development and
Religion, and voluntary organisations, NGOs, CBOs, other Humanitarian International
Organizations that focus on the subject matter that have programs for violence
have to develop workable models for joint action to combat men’s violence
against women. These models should be based on a comprehensive, integrated
approach to the problem: the woman is given the support and protection she
needs, the children are given the opportunity to work through their
experiences, and the man who is a perpetrator is offered programme measures to
help him deal with his violent behaviour if he is brought to justice. This
collaboration and service should be undertaken at local level. The Government,
for this model or program to be effective and workable, should allocate
funding for these groups that have
already initiated such joint efforts, to enable them to evaluate progress, and
other related matters of helping relocation support. These funds may be used to
develop models for cooperation between partners and other organizations that
also include efforts to combat gender
based violence and sorcery related violence against women particularly
vulnerable groups of women.
Develop
common frameworks of networks of practice at the local level and involved such
groups like Human Rights Defender Network, Provincial and local level
government, Law enforcement agencies (Police and village courts), local health
department, NGOs and churches for the prevention of violence. Include the
obligation to establish a multi-professional coordination group to address the
problem of gender base and sorcery related violence. A collective network of
coordinating group will easily team up to effectively produce good result for
the benefit of the victims of violence. The importance of network and the need
to strengthen the network of agencies is purposely for successful repatriation,
relocation and reintegration for victims/survivors of violence. Establish local
coordination committees on agreed protocols for the cooperation among the local
referral networks that is systematic, organized criteria for prevention and
providing relocation support.
One of the key measures aiming to reduce violence against women is
provision to ensure the safety and liberty of the women who have been
victimized or threatened with violence. The need for more legal protection and
effective legal process at the national and provincial level for women will
help reduce violence against women. Hence, relocation support to survivors of gender
based violence and sorcery related violence in PNG could be greatly improved if
the government were to fully support it, not only through resource allocation,
but the development of better laws and policies. The Department of Justice and Attorney General’s Office is the
appropriate government agency to take the lead in developing relevant laws and
policy to combat violence against women in PNG.
Concluding
Remark
Despite
PNG moving into globalization and modernity, the belief of sorcery/witchcraft
is still part of the culture of every PNG society. With the impact of modern education,
technology development, and constant movement and migration of people to
different provinces, people still brought with them their belief of sorcery and
witchcraft which makes it very difficult for them to change quickly. It will
take some time for people to change and abandon the belief of
sorcery/witchcraft.
Women
are the most affected and victim of sorcery related violence in PNG. They
should be respected as human beings. We all have our mothers and we all came
from them. We must respect women as we respect our mothers and sisters.
Do
you want to accuse, torture, and kill your own mother or sister as a
sorcerer/witch in front of the large group of people?