Eight senior officers from NCD police reservists took part in sorcery and gender-based violence workshop by PNG Tribal Foundation during a leadership training in Port Moresby.
PNG Tribal Foundation team engaged with NCDC and reserve police conducted session on ongoing social issues including sorcery accusation related violence and gender-based violence increasing in the communities and how policemen as front dealing with these issues.
Senisim Pasin National Coordinator, Marjorie Finkeo, emphasized on many unreported cases of domestic violence due to lack of police trust and resources.
“Victims lack trust to police and also lack of resources to do thorough investigations and ensuring safety of the victim is guaranteed.
“There is also fear of retaliation where women especially victims are too scared to come out to public or report such incidents to police because in fear of being removed by partners in their homes or being attacked again,” she said.
Ms Finkeo said stigma and shame is also one of the main factors causing many unreported cases of domestic violence.
Policemen gone through the Glassman Bill 2022 have raised questions on the need of more awareness and training needed for policemen and women because of lack of knowledge on how to use the bill for sorcery cases.
These officers have called on responsible government authorities and NGOs to partner with NCDC and RPNGC to carry out more awareness on SARV and Glassman Bill 2022 for frontline police officers.