Right data on violence against children lacking

By OGIA MIAMEL
Lack of proper data is a hindrance to addressing violence against children (VAC) in PNG, United Nations International Children’s Fund (Unicef) communication officer Cifora Monier says.
Monier said at a journalists’ workshop in Port Moresby yesterday that collection of data to address issues were shared with the Government and development partners but at the moment it was a major issue.
“Child welfare in general in comparison to other Pacific countries, it’s not okay, we are not addressing a lot of street children who are abandoned, sleeping out, exposed to drugs, not getting enough healthcare service,” she said.
Monier said PNG did not have a proper structure in placed to take care of those children and rehabilitate them and place them back in society.
She said violence was a major issue against children in the Pacific, and overall, a total of US$200 billion (about K621 billion) was spent in the Pacific annually to combat VAC.
Unicef in PNG is only a partner to the Government in implementing policies and carrying out awareness exercise.
“We are now working with the justice system. We are starting activities with the police service in Port Moresby, trying to teach police how the children should be treated when in custody, standard mandatory rules in dealing with children to safeguard the rights of a child,” Monier said.
She said police were surprised there were rules in placed to deal with children in custody and that indicated that lack of knowledge was a major setback in providing their service.