*Ashlyn has endured an experience that no child should ever have to go through. She suffered sexual abuse from her grandfather and uncle. Ashlyn’s grandfather and uncle had been sexually abusing her since she moved to Port Moresby to live with them, her mother’s family. She did not only suffered sexual abuse, but also suffered physical, emotional, psychological and verbal abuse from the wives of these perpetrators.
Her story
Ashlyn was a toddler when her father died and after his death, her mother gave her away to her maternal grandmother. Her maternal grandmother took her to Port Moresby in early 2012 and gave her up for adoption to her son and his wife, where she lived with them and eventually started to experience different forms of abuse from the perpetrators.
At that time of the abuse, Ashlyn lived with her grandfather and her uncle and his wife. Her grandfather eventually began to show sexual interest to Ashlyn, taking advantage that his wife was away in another province. One time he forced Ashlyn to have sexual intercourse with him but she refused. As a result, he bashed her up. She reported this to the perpetrator’s wife every time it occurs but nothing was done. On one occasion, the perpetrator’s wife returned from her trip and caught her husband sleeping with Ashlyn but never reported it to anyone.
It eventually turned out that Ashlyn was also experiencing sexual abuse from the son of the perpetrator, her uncle. He threatened her with a kitchen knife and sexually assaulted her in his family bedroom. This time, his wife caught them and physically abused Ashlyn. She threw her belongings out of the house, and blamed her for what had transpired.
The two perpetrators continued to sexually abuse Ashlyn. She felt hopeless and traumatized for 8 years.
Femili PNG’s intervention
In May 2020, Ashlyn was again abused sexually by one of the perpetrators. At that very moment, she decided that she had enough. She packed her clothes in a school bag and run away from her adoptive family. She was 15 year old at that time. A neighbor assisted her to one of the university lecturers in Port Moresby for assistance. The university lecturer was kind enough to help her report the case to Femili PNG on 21 May, 2020. Femili PNG case officer assessed Ashlyn’s case and identified that she was in need of other interventions. Her case was further referred to the NCD Welfare Office and Family Support Centre on the same day.
Ashlyn stayed on with the kind-hearted university lecturer for 17 days and started receiving interventions. Later on, she was moved to a temporary safe accommodation and lived there while her case is being progressed.
Through the collaborative works between Femili PNG caseworker, police and court, Ashlyn’s Interim Protection Order (IPO) was successfully lodged and later granted to Permanent Protection Order (PPO) on 8 October, 2020. The Boroko Sexual Offense Squad (SOS) successfully served the order. The police also arrested the perpetrators on 25 August, 2020. Both perpetrators were charged and sent to Bomana prison awaiting court hearing.
Femili PNG as the operator for Bel isi PNG Case Management Centre is aware that what it can offer to Ashlyn are all temporary. Ashlyn needs a caring and supportive family to live a normal life. Femili PNG case officer facilitated family tracing and contacted Ashlyn’s aunty and biological mother. Her mother verbally authorized Ashlyn to return to her sister in Lae, Morobe Province. With this, Femili PNG repatriated Ashlyn to Lae on 15 September, 2020.
Justice received
One-year after the repatriation, the Port Moresby SOS Officer in Charge contacted Bel isi Case Management Centre in regards to Ashlyn’s case. Accordingly, her national court hearing was scheduled on February 2023, and that she needs to meet with the Prosecuting Officer as part of the court hearing preparation.
Bel isi PNG organised for Ashlyn and her aunt to return to Port Moresby for court hearing. Through effective support from the Office of the Public Prosecutions, Ashlyn successfully testified on her case to the National Court. The National Court charged the first defendant under three counts and sentenced him to 20 years of imprisonment in Bomana. The second defendant pleaded guilty and was also sentenced to 17 years imprisonment at Bomana prison.
Ashlyn was 18 years old when she received justice. She is now safe and at peace, things that she longed for since she decided to ran away. She is thankful to Femili PNG, the university lecturer, the Bel isi PNG, SOS police, Office of the Public Prosecutions, the court and hospital for their effective collaboration and support.
Femili PNG highly appreciate the continuous support from the Bel isi PNG in assisting children like Ashlyn who were of high-risk and needing of immediate safety and protection.
*Not her real name
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