PNG Law Society Condemns Gender based Violence

The Papua New Guinea Law Society condemns all forms of gender and family based violence.

In a statement by the Lawyers’ peak body, it said that the prevalence of the problem calls for renewed and concerted efforts by all concerned to weed out this ill from our society.

The National Government’s Policy statement on the issue was the culmination of great work by relevant Government agencies and development partners to understand the problem and suggest workable solutions as an inclusive whole of government response on gender based violence, which followed through with important legislative reforms and programs.

Parliament has amended provisions of the Criminal Code to increase deterrent penalties. The Family Protection Act also simplifies the process of enabling the vulnerable to access justice and seek protection from the law. The Women’s Safe House concept has also provided a further medium to shelter women needing protection from violence perpetrated by spouses or intimate partners.

On reflection however, given the prevalence of this kind of violence, it seems more work is required. Appreciating that this is a complex and cross cutting issue, perhaps we can look at what the research has flagged to inform the way forward. Do we need to change our perceived customary practises and cultural beliefs about gender and sexual difference and hierarchical relations? Do we need to re-arrange the way we think about male privilege, power and patriarchy? Is a further contributor associated with a lack of economic and education opportunities and a breakdown in the family unit and family values? We pose these questions to see how we can foster change.

Turning to what we can immediately influence, it has been suggested that we have sufficient laws but law enforcers need to be better resourced. A good starting point, in the short term, would be to re-visit our enforcement of the law. The Family and Sexual Violence Unit of the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary should be empowered and sufficiently resourced to effectively do its job.

Training and on-going awareness campaigns on gender based violence by relevant Government agencies, Civil Society Groups and Non-Government Organisations on pre-empitve strategies can be another way of educating our people against gender based violence.

Government should also consider establishing a legal aid fund to support survivors and their families to access and gain justice. Such justice ought to be on the premise that compensation is not justice, and law enforcement and justice agencies must apply this principle.

On other issues, the Society has asked members of the public using social media platforms to refrain from making personal attacks on lawyers. This follows adverse comments about a lawyer who is representing a recent alleged offender. All alleged offenders are entitled to legal representation and lawyers can choose to represent anyone requiring legal assistance

In this respect, the PNG Law Society, in consultation with its lawyer members, will give consideration to establishing a limited legal aid service for persons requiring legal advice and assistance with accessing the courts on GBV issues.
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