A gathering in Goroka, attended by over 30 community-based anti-violence advocates, has brought to light the harrowing reality of young girls being used as "comfort women" by gunmen hired to fight in tribal conflicts. This UN-sponsored training on gender-based violence (GBV) and sorcery accusation-related violence has exposed the severe trauma these girls endure. A senior community member from Mendi, who remains anonymous due to security concerns, revealed that it has become a common practice for these armed "hire men" to demand young girls for sex as part of their payment. "This has been happening, but communities don't talk about it. They are armed, and the community agrees to their demands," he said. While sexual assaults of women during tribal conflicts are documented to some extent, the use of young girls as part of the payment to hired gunmen is not openly discussed. "The other problem we have is that armed gunmen sexually assault any woman they want, and the communities can't do anything." The last decade has seen a rise in the use of hired gunmen, especially during elections and tribal conflicts. Armed with illegal assault rifles, they are hired by clans to maintain their dominance. In February of the previous year, the use of hired gunmen gained media attention when 64 people were killed in a tribal fight in Enga. While mass killings often dominate the headlines, the personal cost to the women in the involved clans is significant.