by Theckla Gunga – EM TV News, Port Moresby
Officers dealing with sexual offence cases in Papua New Guinea continue to be trained to improve their skills.
Today saw the closing of a ten-day workshop for mainly victim liaison officers, aimed at delivering essential services to survivors of sexual abuse victims.
The workshop was facilitated by Office of Public Prosecutor and funded by the Australian Government through the PNG-Australia Law and Justice Sector Partnership Program.
The workshop began last Monday and was attended by 25 participants, many of which travelled in from other provinces.
They include members of the Sexual Offences Division from the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary, government and non-government officers and Office of the Chief Justice.
Marilyn Tahi, from Vanuatu Women’s Crisis Centre, an organisation engaged in assisting victims of sexual violence in Vanuatu, said the first week was spent on understanding family and sexual violence, while subjects on how to counsel victims of family and sexual violence was conducted in the second week .
Because of the high family and sexual violence cases reported in PNG, much emphasised is being put into such programs to minimise abuse.
Through the Law and Justice Partnership between the Australia and PNG governments, a joint approach was taken to address this issues, particularly in rural communities where sexual or family abuse has become a norm.
Leoni Mirio,a participant described the workshop as essential training and said that it gave her an insight into specific issues relating to the violence.
Deputy Public Prosecutor, Timothy Ai, said through this workshop, the participants can now work together to ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice.
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