Confusion about law regarding sorcery

THERE is confusion among people and even the police about the law regarding sorcery and sorcery accusation-related violence in the country, says an official.
Dr Fiona Hukula of the National Research Institute said the general public and the police were confused on what the law implied on the issue, with people continuing to be accused, assaulted, tortured or even killed.
She was addressing lawyers from the Public Solicitor’s Office during a workshop in Port Moresby.
“Your role as lawyers for the public is to provide free legal services to people in such circumstances and assist the court to provide protection for the victims,” she said.
Hukula presented findings of a research carried out in Port Moresby, Enga and the Autonomous Region of Bougainville in 2016 where a total of 357 cases of sorcery accusations were recorded, with 117 leading to violence.
“Although most of the cases do not resort to violence, sorcery accusation is still prevalent and accused persons are living in fear of being tortured or killed,” she said.
Principal legal officer Frederick Kirriwom said there were two types of protection orders people could seek to protect themselves from threats or violence. They are the Interim Protection Order under the Family Protection Act or under the District Court Act.