Sorcery Accusation Related Violence in PNG
Sorcery Accusation Related Violence (SARV) is one of Papua New Guinea's gravest human rights problems, a form of collective, community-authorised violence. In times of misfortune or death, groups of people accuse, torture, and even kill those, most often women, they have come to believe are supernaturally responsible. By the time the fires are burning, it is usually too late to put them out.
The violence did not begin that day, though. It began with stories about supernatural harm, stories that go unchallenged, come to feel like common sense, and demand violence as the answer. When everyone believes the story is true, even families and neighbours can be afraid to speak up for the person accused.
Theory of Change: stopping SARV before it starts
Most responses to SARV come after the harm is done. This work comes first: helping communities recognise and challenge the dangerous stories before they turn into violence.
This work is led by Papua New Guineans. Trusted facilitators, teachers, leaders and pastors carry learning materials and a facilitative methodology into their own communities through the networks they already belong to.
Communities should be seen for what they are: intelligent and courageous people who, once they have the knowledge they need and come together in common cause, will work together to build gutpela sindaun, a good and peaceful life together.
The same message reaches people in the three places they already gather: the Community Curriculum in communities, Peter and Grace in schools, and Wokman Bilong God in churches.
