Ten Preliminary Findings Concerning Sorcery Accusation-Related Violence in Papua New Guinea

37 Pages Posted: 26 Apr 2019

See all articles by Miranda Forsyth

Miranda Forsyth

School of Regulation & Global Governance (RegNet)

Philip Gibbs

Divine Word University

Fiona Hukula

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Judy Putt

University of New England

Llane Munau

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Ibolya Losoncz

Australian National University (ANU)

Date Written: March 27, 2019

Abstract

This discussion paper reports on a number of key emerging research findings from a multi-year collaborative research project into overcoming sorcery accusation-related violence (SARV) in Papua New Guinea (PNG). In particular it identifies: (1) the characteristics of those accused and harmed by SARV, demonstrating considerable variation, particularly in gender of those accused, across the country; (2) the multiple types of harm that are caused by SARV, including inter-generational harm; (3) the catalysts of accusation and violence; (4) the widespread confusion about the law and challenges for the criminal justice system presented by SARV; (5) the potentially important roles for law and justice in combatting SARV and the advances made to date; (6) the ways in which the majority of accusations do not lead to violence but are managed through non-violent means; (7) the importance of individuals, government agencies and non-state organisations working together to contain and suppress SARV in a process we term ‘networked containment’; (8) the advances made in anti-SARV activity and the continuation of the agenda despite lack of direct government funding; (9) the importance of multi-level leadership in addressing the issues; and (10) the critical need to adopt a proactive rather than a reactive approach to addressing SARV.

Keywords: sorcery accusation related violence

JEL Classification: Z18

Suggested Citation

Forsyth, Miranda and Gibbs, Philip and Hukula, Fiona and Putt, Judy and Munau, Llane and Losoncz, Ibolya, Ten Preliminary Findings Concerning Sorcery Accusation-Related Violence in Papua New Guinea (March 27, 2019). Development Policy Centre Discussion Paper No. 80, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3360817 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3360817

Miranda Forsyth (Contact Author)

School of Regulation & Global Governance (RegNet) ( email )

Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 0200
Australia

Philip Gibbs

Divine Word University ( email )

Papua New Guinea
67571722349 (Phone)

Fiona Hukula

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Judy Putt

University of New England

11 Hills Beach Road
Biddeford, ME 04005
United States

Llane Munau

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Ibolya Losoncz

Australian National University (ANU) ( email )

Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601
Australia

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