In the heart of Papua New Guinea, the Melanesian Institute for Pastoral and Socio-Economic Services has dedicated itself to the study and promotion of Melanesian cultures. With a focus on supporting churches, missionaries, academics, and local communities, the Institute has become a pivotal resource centre for understanding Melanesian cultures.
Researchers from various disciplines — anthropology, psychology, education, and theology — collaborate to conduct in-depth research on key focus areas. These include marriage and family life, disability, politics, drug and alcohol abuse, and the complex phenomena of accusations of sorcery and witchcraft. Through extensive research and collaboration, the Institute strives to provide insightful perspectives and solutions to the unique challenges faced by the Melanesian region.
Our current programme of work centres on Sorcery Accusation Related Violence. The Institute has spent the past year researching the role of healthcare in tackling SARV, and in May 2026 conducted the first nationwide public opinion survey on the subject — 2,000 respondents across all 20 provinces, the Autonomous Region of Bougainville and the National Capital District. See Confronting SARV for that work, and SARV research for the Institute’s published bibliography going back to 1981.
Printed copies and further detail on any of our research are available on request from medcom@melanesianinstitute.network.