PNG sorcery-related killings escalating

Transcript

The director of Papua New Guinea's Institute of National Affairs is calling for the government to do more in combatting escalating numbers of sorcery-related deaths in the country.

Paul Barker says fear of sorcery seems to have increased, which could be a result of more unexplained deaths partly due to declining rural health services.

Mr Barker says there needs to be more education and awareness that sorcery is not causing these deaths, and more resources put into community development.

He told Mary Baines some members of government are sweeping the issue under the carpet, despite the issue needing to be on the top of the country's agenda.

PAUL BARKER: The level of fear of sorcery seems to have built up perhaps associated with unexplained deaths, maybe partly as a result of the decline in rural health services and people dying of different diseases, and everything seems to be sort of explained by magic. And people do live in fear both of sorcery but also of being accused of being sorcerers. There are whole areas in PNG where it didn't seem to be too much of a serious issue but now it seems to have been hijacked particularly by younger men, who are looking for a place in society and not feeling as though they are getting jobs and recognition. And it's almost like a challenge by some of these young men against traditional leadership in the community as well as intimidating particularly women but sometimes men as well. It sometimes results in very horrendous attacks on the victims and their families, and it is happening all round, particularly in parts of the Highlands. We've held two workshops in the last 6 months together with various other organisations to raise the awareness to try and counter these sort of superstitious beliefs but also to find ways to provide protection and escape for people who have been targeted.

MARY BAINES: So what is the government doing to combat this issue, it is doing enough?

PB: Quick measures were introduced last year, pushed through particularly by the former Attorney General, Kerenga Kua. They repealed the Sorcery Act, because it was actually just getting in the way of addressing the issue. The Justice Department is certainly an active participant in trying to address other legislation. There is a new family protection legislation and children's legislation that has come in. Further legislation does need to be brought in. And the government has also been rolling out family violence units in police stations around the country but unfortunately in some cases we also have major problems with the police, with some police, who have been serious perpetrators themselves. So there's an issue of sorting out problems within the police. But you've got a community development department which really needs to be taking a lead role in this, but they are very under-resourced both at a national level and a provincial level. But considerably more needs to be done. At the moment it is an embarrassment and some players in government seem more inclined to just brush it under the carpet rather than address it.