Femili PNG through its outreach department has trained more than 300 village court officials in the Eastern Highlands Province in late 2023 and early 2024.
The Village Court Officials, both men and women from the districts of Goroka, Lufa, Daulo and Kainantu, were representing their village court areas in different local level government (LLGs).
In recognizing the need to help the village court officials change their perspective on decisions based on traditional norms, Femili PNG conducted training purposely to upskill their knowledge and understanding and being aware of the problems of gender and family and sexual violence (FSV), child abuse and sorcery accusation related violence (SARV). This knowledge will assist them to needs and progress cases accordingly. This includes identifying survivors and respond to their needs immediately.
The training covered topics ranging from family and sexual violence, child abuse, Lukautim Pikinini Act 2015, Family Protection Act 2013, and the Criminal Code (amended) on violence related to SARV and referral pathways.
According to Femili PNG Community and Outreach Officer, Paul Kunump, over 300 village court officials attended the training. The first training was conducted to officials from Goroka district in October 2023 and continued on to Kainantu District in February 2024. They appreciated Femili PNG for filling in the missing gaps through informative training, this helps them to improve in responding to family and sexual violence cases.
In addition, Femili PNG carried out a monitoring and evaluation exercise in November 2024 after a few months with these participants to measure how this training has helped them in their line of work and the impact and challenges it had so far.
During interviews and discussions, most of them verbalised how the training empowered them to address issues of family and sexual violence in their respective communities by doing awareness at market places and before conducting court hearings. They have carried out awareness, especially on SARV, and saw people receiving messages with respect and showing signs of improvement. In addition, the number of family violence cases (intimate partner violence) has droppe. In one of the court areas located in Daulo district, parents understood child labor and are not allowing their children to carry heavy stuff to and from the garden and river.
One of the prominent Community Leaders in Mimanalo, Goroka District, Kevin Koro who was among the Village Court Officials said: “We have not only seen changes in our community but as individuals, in our personal lives and families. Every time I woke up, I feel challenge to lead and live by example. The challenge of making sure I live up to what I say and do in the community as a leader and village court official. Thank you FPNG for the training and engagement.”
Paul Kunump continues to work with some of these village court officials, engaging them as outreach volunteers to do awareness activities in their respective communities.
Femili PNG Goroka Outpost is grateful to receive support from the Newcrest Mining and Kainantu Mining to educate and empower village court officials to change their old perspective in addressing issues of family and sexual violence.
