Survivors of violence deserve better

WE preach about the system of help available to assist any those in a violent relationship but in reality, the process is not encouraging and many give up.
Domestic violence, for that matter, will continue to be an issue unless the Government works in partnership with concerned stakeholders and partners.
Former governments have failed to protect victims of family violence.
Women are left unprotected, even when they have gone to great lengths to seek help.
Governments have neglected survivors’ needs for safety, services and justice, and found women often had no choice but to live with abusive partners.
Lae MP and Lands and Physical Planning Minister John Rosso told a recent family sexual violence forum in Lae, Morobe, that we can make all the laws we want but if we do not enforce it, nothing can certainly be done about it.
Rosso, who is also a member of the special permanent Parliamentary committee on gender-based violence (GBV), said there should be a more coordinated effort to raise public awareness on GBV referrals, especially in schools.
We have reported especially on women giving up hope while waiting for assistance at police stations.
There should be a standard guide made public informing victims of violence on how they can seek help – referral pathways.
There is a need for transparent referrals for family and sexual violence survivors.
We agree with Rosso that referrals are critical and should be made known to every Papua New Guinean.
We acknowledge the support from our overseas donors, especially on the technical help in setting up the process.
The challenge now is to provide reliable and steady funding so the technical plans actually come into reality.
Those in the system will say there are services for survivors of family and sexual violence with referral pathways already available – the police (family sexual violence unit), the health sector response, family support centre, village court safe houses and legal support from public solicitors, public prosecutors and churches.
The question is how effective are these services?
Are they accessible at any time of the day/night?
Is there a section at the respective hospitals for victims, where they are attended to and issued a medical report to support their police complaints?
What about counsellors?
They should be available to quickly assess the cases and advise police.
Some may need to spend a night or two at a safe house.
It is already traumatising and many victims are emotionally affected.
This is the most dangerous part of it all.
We can boast about such services but if it not assessable, then it is time we relook at our strategies in tackling this complex issue.
Let us not forget that those who provide such services should be financially supported in terms of training, properly compensated for the hours they put and their safety guaranteed.
It is time the family and sexual violence unit of police is accorded the recognition it deserves to become a directorate of the PNG Royal Constabulary.
Police officers should attend to victims immediately, make an initial report, take them to the hospital and ensure they are attended to and are safe and then return to the station to complete the report with the medical report as evidence.
If this Government is serious about the welfare of women and children to address family and sexual violence, funding should be allocated with strings attached that it should only be used on this issue and not diverted elsewhere.