A five-day workshop aimed at improving investigation and prosecution of child sexual offences was officially opened on Monday (July 30) at the Lamana Hotel in Port Moresby.
The Joint Pikinini Workshop is a collaborative effort between the Office of the Public Prosecutor and the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC) and is being hosted by the Justice Sector and Sustainability for Development (JSS4D) with the support from both the Papua New Guinea-Australia Policing Partnership and the Institutional Partnership Program.
There are 16 RPNGC and 20 lawyers from the Office of the Public Prosecutor (OPP) and the Public Solicitor participating. A representative from the Australian Attorney General’s Department is also attending as an observer.
The session started on Monday (July 30) at 8 am with Tevita Seruilumi speaking on understanding the misconceptions that give rise to child sexual abuse while Dr Amie Frewen talked about children as witnesses.
On Tuesday (July 31) Noel Needham, Helen Roalakona, Dejana Kovac and David Kuvi will be presenting interviewing techniques and court advocacy for child sexual offences.
On Wednesday (August 1) and Thursday (August 2), there will be a mock trial exercise which elaborates on forensic interviewing of children and practical interviewing which involves a single incident. The program closes at 3.30pm on Friday 3rd August.
Source: Press Release
