Melanesian Institute’s Researchers begin study on SARV related issues

Researchers from the Melanesian Institute in Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province, have embarked on a week-long fact-finding mission on Sorcery Accusation Related Violence issues in Simbu Province.

They were conducting in-depth interviews with focus group discussions and collecting data and information on how churches help to treat people who suffer from Sorcery Related Accusation Violence (SARV).

They held their first interview at the St Joseph Mingende Rural Hospital, a church run hospital in the Kerowagi district.

In-depth interviews and focus group discussions were carried out with the administration team, the hospital chaplain, priests and the nurses at the hospital.

Also, interviews and focus group discussions were carried out on SARV survivors and ancillary staff of the hospital, including the Family Sexual Violence Unit (FSVU) of the Kerowagi police.

Another interview was carried out with the FSVU of the Kundiawa police and the Family Support Centre (FSC) of the Simbu Province.

These interviews basically focused on identifying potential collaboration with churches in addressing the issue of SARV. Acting Manageress of Catholic Health Services in Simbu Province and Mingende Rural Hospital Sr Erikeve, pointed out that SARV is a sensitive issue in the province and that the hospital faces a lot of challenges in addressing the issue while attending to the SARV patients.

The research continued with an in-depth interview with the Caritas Co-ordinator Judy Gelua, who is an advocator and respondent to SARV survivors in the province.

Another advocator against SARV is Fr Jan Jarwoski of Simbu Provincial Health Authority. With the assistance of Sr Lorraina from Mendi diocese, he is currently providing a safe house, care and rehabilitation services for SARV survivors to reintegrate them into communities. Ms Gelua and Fr Jaworski liaise and arranged for the M.I research team for in-depth interviews with SARV survivors in Mingende and Kundiawa respectively.

The Bishop of the Kundiawa Diocese, Paul Sundu, affirmed that SARV is a very sensitive issue in the province and that the diocese is working on a plan to address it. He also stated that the diocese had recently established a legal help desk purposely for SARV cases alone with a lawyer from The Voice Inc. already stationed at the diocese.