A first of its kind for the Simbu Province, Sorcery Accusation Related Violence (SARV) Legal Help Desk was launched in Kundiawa.
This was made possible through a partnership between The Voice Inc. (TVI) and the Catholic Diocese of Kundiawa.
This Legal Help Desk is expected to provide SARV survivors with guidance on reporting cases to the police, support for civil claims, and assistance in obtaining protection orders.
Additionally, it will develop legal awareness materials, collaborate with SARV stakeholders to improve legal system access and raise awareness on SARV.
The Legal Help Desk is an activity under TVI’s Local Leadership and Collective Action Program (LLCAP) that is funded by the Australian Government and marks the culmination of TVI’s efforts in its campaign against the issue of sorcery accusation related violence since 2020 and recognition of the need for legal assistance for survivors to access justice.
The participation of Developmental Leaders on the frontline of addressing SARV in the Simbu Province in the Problem Driven Iterative Adaptation (PDIA) Course facilitated by the Building State Capability Team of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government offered through the LLCAP.
Together, they identified that a Legal Desk Service was needed to provide free legal aid to SARV victims when seeking justice.
The Bishop of Kundiawa Bishop Paul Sundu, speaking during the launch of the SARV Legal Help Desk, acknowledged that sorcery violence was a growing issue and he urged all those present to utilize the services that would be provided.
He also thanked TVI for responding to the need for legal assistance for SARV survivors within Simbu.
The Executive Director of The Voice Inc. (TVI) Ms. Maliwai Sasingian, who was also in attendance at the launch, reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to curbing the issue of SARV through the SARV Legal Help Desk.
“TVI condemns SARV. PNG does not need to be defined by these atrocities. We need to take collective action in order to be bring an end to this issue” Sasingian shared.
“The Highlands Women Human Rights Defenders Network, Kup Women for Peace, the Family Support Center at the Kundiawa General Hospital alongside Developmental Leaders are essential partners to the work carried out by the SARV Legal Help Desk & TVI is committed to continuing to increase awareness and general public discourse around the issue of SARV.”
The Voice Inc. (TVI) was established in 2007 and incorporated in 2010.
A leading local civil society organization, TVI works in the space of policy reform by engaging and empowering its network of developmental leaders to address some of Papua New Guinea’s most pressing issues.