Victims need to let the law take its cause

The PNG Royal Constabulary is one of the key organisations that should be stepping up in addressing Gender Based Violence (GBV) in the country each year, but they too are faced with tough decisions when it comes to arresting/dealing with perpetrators and serving justice to the victim. 

This was revealed by the officer in charge of the Family and Sexual Violence Unit Chief Inspector David Kila during the 2016 Women Forum in Port Moresby this week.

Inspector Kila said despite the assistance given to victims by the police in apprehending and arresting the perpetrator, it’s the victim that refuses to lay charges and this is one reason perpetrators are allowed to continue their abuse at home.

“Most of the time, the perpetrators happen to be the victim’s husband and I don’t understand why most women don’t want to lock up their abusive husbands, maybe it’s because of love or cultural ties like bride price or maybe the husband is the only provider in the family but that doesn’t give him the right to be abusive towards a woman” she added.

He said women have to understand that abusive husbands cannot give them the love and care they deserve so it’s better to report them and charge them for what they did as they will continue to be abusive if they are no dealt with by the law enforcers.

Meanwhile, the PNG Royal Constabulary has 16 Family and Sexual Violence Units throughout the country and they have over 50 trained GBV police officers working in the Family and Sexual Violence Unit. PNGFM / ONEPNG