By: Theckla Gunga – EMTV Port Moresby
The new female wing constructed recently is located a kilometre away from the main prison compound in Bomana. There are close to 30 female inmates, some convicts and others awaiting their trials.
Among these female inmates, are two children innocently living there. But while their minds are only developing, National Court Judge, Justice Paneul Mogish, says the growth of these children can be affected.
Under Papua New Guinea Laws, a child can live with the inmate mother until the child reaches three years of age.
At the time their mothers were imprisoned both were 6 and 18 months old.
The Female Wing does not have proper facilities to accommodate these children and they also do not have access to proper meals required for their growth.
For these two children, one has several months before she will be released from custody while the other has over a year to live in the prison.
The situation is similar to other prisons in Papua New Guinea where children under three years old are allowed to live with the mother.
