Victims of violence need access to services: Study

By HELEN TARAWA
Families affected by family and sexual violence (FSV) need to access services away from their homes, a study reveals.
Dora Kuir-Ayius, a social work student from the University PNG who carried out research into how we deal with FSV at home, said an avenue should be created for victims to access services.
The research was carried out in Lae with the support of the Australian National University and University of Technology.
Some of the issues covered included urbanisation, gender violence and education.
“The focus is on the perspectives of the community in Lae with a view to informing the policy, legal and service provision terrain,” Kuir-Ayius said.
“This research is policy oriented and aimed at providing the evidence base for policymakers in these spaces.”
She said institutions in Lae providing services and police had improved greatly.
“The toll-free number and police response has helped to de-escalate or prevent further violence,” she said. The study found that the impacts of economic constraints on mothers and children included the non-payment of school fees, lack of bus fare, little or no food and low educational levels.
Major constraints had been on women’s ability to seek support services, and chronic violence or neglect of mothers and children by husbands andfathers.
“The study showed that spirituality and prayer were sources of strength and hope for the women,” Kuir-Ayius said. “The church is a place of social safety, networks and encouragement.
“In PNG, we have a lot of issues surrounding family and sexual violence. Many of the victims do not seek help due to fear that they will lose their source of income.”