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?  

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