Press Release

United Nations in Papua New Guinea Strongly Condemns Torture of Two Women in Goroka

01 April 2021

The United Nations in Papua New Guinea joins Goroka MP Aiye Tambua in strongly condemning the senseless torture of a woman and her daughter accused of practicing sorcery in the Eastern Highlands. The pair were attacked after the death of the woman’s husband, a frontline health worker believed to have succumbed to COVID-19. The UN calls for justice and prosecution of the perpetrators.

UN Resident Coordinator Gianluca Rampolla said: “The UN condemns harmful practices such as Sorcery Accusation Related Violence (SARV) against women. Sorcery accusations should not be used to further isolate marginalized community members and women and girls. In the time of COVID-19, is critical that communities ensure the protection of survivors accused of sorcery or witchcraft. Communities should not stigmatize or discriminate against those who contract the COVID-19 Virus. Our heartfelt sympathy to both mother and daughter who has endured this violence from their own relatives.”

Minimizing fear and stopping the stigmatization of others is essential to helping individuals, communities and government workers during the time of crisis. The government and society need to act fast to prevent the spread of fear, a catalyst for violence and social unrest. Trusted sources of information about COVID-19 that are consistent, locally relevant and communicated by locally trusted authorities are a key priority.

Our civil society partners cite non-intervention by police and failure to arrest perpetrators as one of the major bottlenecks in addressing Sorcery Accusation Related Violence. Survivors are unable to return to their homes and communities and rely heavily on the long-term support from churches and civil society organizations. It is critical to ensure the arrest, charge and prosecution of SARV cases to end perceptions of impunity.

Communities and leaders should spread accurate information on COVID-19 to prevent discrimination and accusations of sorcery and witchcraft. All survivors of Sorcery Accusation Related Violence should receive immediate support and protection.

The United Nations thanks development partners for their ongoing support to eliminate violence against women and children in Papua New Guinea: notably the European Union through the Spotlight Initiative, in partnership with the Women’s Peace & Humanitarian Fund, which supports civil society partners on the ground that respond to sorcery related violence cases, the Australian government, and the New Zealand government through several investments.

The United Nations is also working with Government to scale up the response to COVID-19 and combat rampant misinformation surrounding the virus and the vaccine. Nation-wide messaging campaigns will aim to reach remote areas of the country where sorcery accusations are most prevalent as health services are provided additional PPE, testing kits, and medical supplies.