By ZACHERY PER
A TOTAL of 17 women from two districts in Eastern Highlands province passed out as Village Court magistrates last Friday.
This group of women have been urged to hear cases in the village instead of town.
Provincial administrator Munare Uyassi made the call while closing the two-week women Village Court magistrate training in Goroka.
He said Village Court cases were being heard at the Peace Park in Goroka town, which is unnecessarily attracting people to converge into town.
“You as Village Court magistrates should help to reduce the number of people converging into town by hearing cases in villages,” Mr Uyassi said.
He assured them of Government’s support.
He also encouraged them to develop positive attitudes as they would shoulder huge burdens as they were now recognised to dispense justice at the village level.
He said Eastern Highlands was the first to implement the policy of having one female magistrate in each Village Court.
Mr Uyassi also acknowledged Provincial Law and Justice coordinator Ben Sapu and Provincial Village Court inspectors Kihan Sireh and Agatha Watep for successfully coordinating the training.
Law and Justice Sector Programme Gender adviser Jane Kesno, who is one of the facilitators, encouraged the women to keep their heads high and hear cases without fear and favour as the initiative was to achieve gender equality and participation.
“It is not an easy decision that you have made, you will be in the front line to help lessen law and order problems, especially violence against family and women that is increasing now,” she said.
Trainer Andrew Sagumai from the Village Court Secretariat in Port Moresby thanked the husbands of the women for their understanding and support.
Mr Sagumai said gender equality should be promoted in all walks of life and Village Courts were no exception.
The graduating women are from Goroka and Daulo districts.
According to Mr Sapu, Ungai-Bena and Henganofi is expected to be the next before the training is extended to other districts.