Churches told to do more

By MARJORIE FINKEO
CIVIL society organisations are calling on churches to be more vocal about sorcery related accusations that are common in the country.
PNG Human Rights Defenders Association representative Linda Tule said while non-governmental organisations were leading the cause against sorcery-related violence, churches through their leaders and pastors had yet to take a stronger stance on the issue.
“Every Sunday you are praying and preaching in the church but you are not saying anything about women and girls being punished and dying at the hands of the people,” Tule said.
She said few churches had shown interest in standing with them to fight sorcery-related violence, even though it was a real issue affecting many rural communities.
Non-governmental organisation (NGO) representative Shirley Kaupa said according to records from 2010 to 2018, a total of 53 victims had been injured or killed but little had been done to arrest, charge and prosecute perpetrators.
From December to last month, at least five sorcery-related violence had not resulted in any arrests or charges.
United Nations Women country representative Adekemi Ndeli said the world organisation was saddened and appalled at the violation of these victims’ rights to life, liberty and security and the horrific nature of the torture.
She said violence and injustice destroyed lives and they stood in solidarity with women whose rights had been violated and other advocates to condemn the acts and called for action by the relevant authorities to ensure justice for the victims.
“It is inhuman and degrading treatment inflicted on these women not only by their own community but aggravated by insensitive reporting in the media,” she said. Tule called for churches to do more with NGOs to address the issue of sorcery-related violence.