New office opens doors for violence victims to seek help

HELP is now closer for family sexual violence victims (FSV) at China Town in Lae following the openingof the refurbished police station there.
And a female ward councillor Carol Yawing wasted no time in calling for those affected by FSV to come out and seek help.
“Victims of FSV must not feel scared but come forward because the office was created purposely to help them,” she said.
“I want our community to know that we already have an (FSV) office here.
“This office will help them so they should come and seek assistance here.”
This is the second police station in the city to have a special office dedicated to handling FSV cases after a similar coordinating office was opened at the Lae Central Police Station.
Police station commander Snr Const Gordon Matafimo said the office was created in January after one of his officers went for a training to deal with FSV cases.
He said Constable Newman Limbao would manage the office and report to Sgt Ruth Murup, the head of FSV in Lae.
Matafimo said the office will handle all FSV cases, keep statistics, and refer victims to appropriate stakeholders when needed.
“Non-government organisation Femili PNG has also supported us by donating a computer set to our FSV section,” he said.