After 4 years, GBV Survivor still Waiting for Trial

A SURVIVOR of gender-based violence told a special parliamentary committee inquiry into the issue that she had been waiting for almost four years for a court trial on her case.
Hannah Joku told inquiry chairman Charles Abel and his committee members that a delay in justice for victims and survivors of gender based violence (GBV) had led to some women losing their lives in PNG.
Joku said her case was yet to be heard in the National Court.
She lodged a complaint with police on Sept 17, 2018 and an arrest was made. The case, involving two counts of gender-based harassment and one count of rape, was committed for trial in the National Court on Aug 24, 2019.
She shared her story during the first GBV summit at Parliament House on Aug 24 last year.

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“How much longer do I have to wait?
“Because this is the very reason many women lose hope in our justice system, drop their charges and sometimes lose their lives because of this.
“Improvements must be made to our system to enable victims of violence, male or female, the ease of accessibility to resources and swift action to the processes so we are not walking targets of further violence and can move on to live in peace.
“My story is no different to the thousands of PNG women who suffer abuse and violence at the hands of the very persons who promised to love and care for them.”
She said not enough information was available to everyday Papua New Guineans of what their rights were.
“Let us change that,” Joku said.

Source : The National / PNGfacts

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