THE Papua New Guinea Tribal Foundation wishes to clarify the current legal landscape governing sorcery-accusation related violence (SARV) in Papua New Guinea, following recent media commentary calling for a review of the repealed Sorcery Act.
President of PNG Tribal Foundation GT Bustin said that based on their extensive experience on the work sorcery violence in the country have shown that the country lacks a specific legal framework to address these issues is inaccurate.
As an organization at the forefront of protecting victims and driving legal accountability, the Tribal Foundation notes that the gaps mentioned have already been directly addressed by robust, modern legislation.
1. The Reality of the Law: The “Glassman” Act
PNG Tribal Foundation was instrumental in advocating for and bringing to life the specific legislative amendments
designed to target the root causes of Sorcery-Accusation-Related Violence (SARV) most notably, the laws regulating and criminalizing “Glassman” or “Glassmeri” practices.
Criminalizing the Accusers-Under the current legal framework, it is a strict criminal offense for anyone to practice as a Glassman (traditional diviner/witch doctor), to falsely point out or accuse an individual of practicing sorcery, or to instigate community violence based on accusations.
No Legal Vacuum-When the Sorcery Act 1971 was repealed in 2013; it was replaced by decisive amendments to the Criminal Code.
This closed the loophole that previously allowed killers to use “sorcery provocation” as a legal defense.
Today, violence or murder fueled by sorcery accusations is treated strictly as willful murder and assault and a violation of the recently updated Criminal Code pertaining to accusations of sorcery.
2. Active Protection and Justice on the Ground
“We see firsthand the devastation that sorcery accusations bring to families, particularly vulnerable women and children,” Mr. Bustin said.
“But the solution is not resurrecting an outdated 1971 law that inadvertently legitimized harmful beliefs.”
Mr. Bustin added that the solution lies in aggressively
enforcing the powerful laws PNG already have on the books, including the restrictions on Glassmen and anyone making accusations of sorcery.
The Tribal Foundation continues to actively work alongside law enforcement and community leaders to:
• Rescue and provide safe relocation for victims fleeing SARV.
•Support the state in bringing perpetrators, instigators, and fraudulent *Glassmen* to justice.
•Educate rural communities on the severe criminal penalties attached to making sorcery accusations.
Mr. Bustin said the challenge in PNG is not a lack of laws, but the implementation and enforcement of our existing legal tools.
The Tribal Foundation calls on all community leaders, media partners, and law enforcement officers to familiarize themselves with the current laws so they can collectively protect the innocent and prosecute the guilty.