Review on family and sexual violence report out

A REVIEW conducted by one of the country’s think-tanks has recommended strategies and plans that can be used to effectively address and reduce family and sexual violence in PNG communities.
The National Research Institute yesterday launched a report based on its findings in Port Moresby.
The report is titled “Ending family and sexual violence in PNG: Review and national strategy and recommendations”.
Giving an overview of the report, Consultative Implementation and Monitoring Council (CIMC) executive director Majorie Andrews said the government and civil societies had the task of implementing seven key focus areas which were designed to integrate with each other towards preventing and responding to family and sexual violence.
“The goal of the strategy is to provide treatment and support, investigate and prosecute all forms of family and sexual violence, and protect women, men and children from perpetrators and hold them accountable,” Andrews said.
She said family and sexual violence was a security issue highly prevalent in PNG communities.
“PNG ranks 124 out of 136 countries in the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) gender-related development index for 2007-08.”
The review was funded by Australia-PNG Sanap Wantaim HIV/AIDS programme, undertaken by the Family and Sexual Violence Action Committee (FSVAC) in partnership with development and donor partners such as AusAID, UN agencies, the British High Commission, Asia Foundation and the US embassy.
Key PNG government agencies involved were the departments of justice and attorney-general, national planning and monitoring and community development.