NRI Publishes: The National Research Institute has unveiled a comprehensive research paper tackling the pressing issue of sorcery accusation-related violence (SARV) during a recent event at the village court. Saveral Personnels helped in this collaborative research including NRI.
Led by research officer William Kipongi, the study sheds light on the challenges faced by village court officials in addressing SARV incidents spanning from 2016 to 2020 across regions including the National Capital District, Enga, Jiwaka, and Bougainville of Papua New Guinea.
NRI Publishes New…
The research revealed alarming statistics, documenting 1039 cases of sorcery accusations and 1554 victims directly and indirectly affected by sorcery-related violence during the specified period.
Village court officials encountered various obstacles in their efforts to address SARV effectively, including pressure to exceed jurisdiction, inadequate community or police support, risk of physical assault, low legal literacy among community members, and confusion regarding SARV resolution methods.
Kipongi emphasized the vulnerability of village mediators who often become targets of violence when attempting to arbitrate between conflicting parties and uphold legal principles.
He underscored the crucial need for awareness training for interpreters and mediators to ensure accurate communication and prevent misunderstandings that could escalate into violence.
Despite the challenges highlighted, Kipongi remains hopeful for progress, advocating for collaborative efforts between the government and stakeholders to implement targeted training programs, raise awareness about legal rights, and explore innovative approaches to tackle SARV effectively.
The research serves as a call to action, urging concerted efforts to address the multifaceted issues surrounding SARV and safeguard the well-being of affected communities.
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