Papua New Guinea's police commission plans to transform its Family & Sexual Violence Unit into a fully-fledged directorate within the Crimes Division of the constabulary.
Photo: 123rf
This was revealed by Deputy Police Commissioner, Jim Andrews, at a workshop on family and sexual violence.
Mr Andrews delivered a speech by the Police Commissioner Gary Baki, who was unable to attend, admitting the force still has a lot of work to do to counter domestic and gender -based violence.
The speech revealed a huge disparity between the abuse cases reported and convictions made.
The total number of domestic and gender-based violence cases reported in PNG for the combined years of 2015 and 2016 is 13,787.
Of this there were 738 arrests, 660 Interim Protection Orders, 3,477 referrals, 5,495 cases pending, 3,291 mediation and 126 convictions.
Mr Andrews said this was problematic, and noted that there appeared to be a lack of information within the public domain on basic rights.
He noted the help of the Australian Federal Police in expanding the Family & Sexual Violence Unit's work to outer provinces, as well as the training provided by the Fiji Women Crisis Centre since 2009.
Deputy Police Commissioner, Jim Andrews. Photo: emtv
However Mr Andrews indicated although it had offices in most provinces, the Unit lacked funding, resourcing and capacity.
Currently the Unit has 33 established desks in 17 provinces, with 88 dedicated policemen and policewomen.
The commissioner said the establishment of a directorate would help to address these shortfalls and raise awareness of the services available to victims.
PNG's police force is likely to have to fund the establishment of the planned directorate from its own coffers.
But Mr Andrews said the police force was serious about facilitating justice for the many cases of domestic and gender-based violence.
"Most cases do not run their full course because the victims withdraw the cases," Mr Andrews said.
"In most cases the offender is often the main provider so the victim has not choice. We need to give them that option. Whatever level of support they are getting from the offender should be continued by the State through the trial and beyond."