Law passed to protect family

 THE Family Protection Bill was passed by Parliament to protect families and individuals from domestic and sexual violence, says a non-government organisation.

The Eastern Highlands Family Voice in Goroka has been addressing family and sexual violence issues by providing counselling, advocacy and awareness programmes. 

About 100 cases had been reported to the organisation between January and December 2012. 

The Goroka Base Hospital’s accident and emergency section reported about 800 cases of family and sexual violence from 2008 to 2011. 

The Eastern Highlands Human Rights Network Committee commended the government on the enactment of this new law. 

Chairman John Ericho said there was an increasing number of family and sexual violence cases reported to the Eastern Highlands Family Voice office and other service providers in Goroka.

He hoped that the new law would arrest, reduce and eventually rid of such cases.