Committee wants more action

THE Special Parliamentary Committee on gender-based violence (GBV) wants more action from the Government as GBV cases rise nationwide, committee chairman Charles Abel says.
“One of the most pressing issues raised with us in recent months is the worrying rise in sorcery accusation-related violence (SARV), which is resulting in vicious, brutal violence and killings of innocent people, not only in outlying villages but also in towns and cities,” he said.
At the parliamentary hearings in May, the committee heard troubling stories about SARV cases from a number of representatives from organisations who work on the issue.
Tribal Foundation’s Ruth Kissam said any woman accused of sorcery were now having their children at risk of the same violence. “Cases should be prosecuted to send a message that they cannot be targeted,” she said.
Kissam’s colleague Gary Bustin said women and children in SARV was now beyond what “one animal would savagely do to another”.
“We need to go after the glassmen and the witch doctors who are preying on local fears to make money,” he said.
Abel raised strong concerns that more needed to be done to address SARV issues.
“I am extremely concerned that SARV cases are increasing nationwide and no action has ever been seen taken against the perpetrators,” he said.
“Whole villages seem to be involved with violence and killings occurring in broad daylight, yet, we see no arrests and no-one being held accountable. The police should do more to investigate and make sure that people are protected from these absolutely untrue allegations
“There is simply no place for such random, senseless violence in our society.”
In June, the Divine Word University, National Research Institute and Australian National University held a conference on SARV issues.