More than 200 people participated in awareness on sorcery accusation-related violence and gender-based violence in communities and schools in Kavieng, New Ireland, last week.
The Pilai Lon Senis Programme, through a partnership between the Australian Football League (AFL) PNG and PNG Tribal Foundation, conducted a weeklong awareness programme in Bagail, OLSH (Our Lady of the Sacred Heart) International, Sivisat and Munuwai.
A total of 66 people attended the awareness at the Bagail community, 45 students participated at OLSH International, 49 people attended at the Sivisat community and 58 participated in the phase two programme at Munuwai.
A total of 218 people from communities and schools participated in the programme.
Participants engaged in interactive sessions on different forms of violence, their causes and effects, dealing with abusive homes and different referral pathways and frontline authorities to reach out to when seeking help.
PNG Tribal Foundation officer Jessica Sarti, speaking to students at OLSH International, said gender-based violence and other forms of violence can be intergenerational when children are growing up and witnessing violence in their homes.
“Children who witness violence while growing up may later use violence against their partners because they believe it is acceptable to physically abuse their partners,” she said.
Many locals also raised concerns about homebrew abuse, partner violence, youth unemployment and other social issues that need to be addressed.
The awareness programme also saw more than 100 schoolchildren participate in football activities with the AFL team.