Police in Lae, Papua New Guinea's second biggest city, are enforcing a zero tolerance approach to family sexual violence.
Photo: RNZI Johnny Blades
PNG Loop reported the Lae metropolitan police commander Anthony Wagambie Junior saying sexual violence committed by family members including rape, incest and child molestation were sometimes not properly addressed in PNG.
Mr Wagambie said this wasbecause relatives or communities often agreed to out of court settlements, including compensation.
But the police commander said this would no longer be tolerated in Lae City, and his officers had been issued directives to make sure all family sexual violence cases are met with the full force of the law.
Mr Wagambie said members of the community should work together with police to address the issue.
He said anyone wishing to report an incident to visit the family sexual violence office in Lae Central.