Making children talk about abuse major obstacle

POLICE say one of the biggest problems they face when investigating child abuse cases is the reluctance of the young victims to talk.
Family Sexual Violence Unit acting coordinator Sergeant Job Eremugo also told The National that officers conducting the interviews lacked the communication skills to interview young victims.
He was among those who attended a joint pikinini witness workshop in Port Moresby.
“So I believe that with this workshop, our officers would be educated on the skills needed to interview a minor and get information to successfully prosecute,” Eremugo said.
He said the workshop also strengthened the relationship between lawyers and police in dealing with cases which involved vulnerable members of society.
“The children deserve to be looked after and not abused. Therefore, we all need to work together to make sure perpetrators face the full force of the law as this indecent act is not okay in our society.”
More than 40 police officers and lawyers from public prosecution are attending the week-long workshop.
Prosecutor Mercy Tamate said the workshop was facilitated by the Australian Federal Police and facilitators from Queensland. It involved lawyers from the public prosecutor’s office, the police sexual offence squad and family sexual violence unit from around the country.