FSV Unit [Police] should rise above GBV by enforcing family protection laws

Papua New Guinea is deeply rooted in Gender Based Violence [GBV]. In the old days, the marriage knots were tied traditionally. Consequently, experienced less family base violence. In the modern days, situation have drastically changed due to changing socioeconomic landscape. In old days, one man married more than 2 wives, but they all lived in harmony under one roof but today, this is unseen, but more violence. 

Everyday hundreds of GBV cases are reported at police stations-FSV Unit across the country.

 Given the magnitude of cases presented each day, the government of Papua New Guinea have passed Family Protection Act 2013 [FPA], Lukautim Pikinini ACT and National Prevention & Response to Gender Based Violence Act. These laws are there to protect the lives of men, women and children.

To address GBV effective, the government have established an FSV Unit [image F#1] through the office of Police commissioner, purposely to enforce GBV laws. 

The FSV Unit is totally responsible for addressing GBV in the country. They must fully execute available laws so that the impact of these laws are felt within the county.

According to source, FSV Unit officers are not applying FPA, instead they are using Interim Protection Order [IPO] or Permanent Order [PO]. 

The source said the FSV Unit is operating soft approach.  The example of soft approach is when the victim of violence reports the matter to FSV unit; the Officers say this is family issues so go back home and solve it, or ask them to pay compensation, or the victim of violent go back to her husbands or wives and they persuade each other to select the issues at their homes. As a result it weaken the purpose of FPA -Laws. Or in many instance, police lacks logistic support to do their jobs, such excuse is a chronic problem face by police man and women across PNG.

The sources said once the matter is reported to police, its now a police matter and the police should immediately arrest and charge the perpetrator instead of proposing for compensation, settling at home [etc.], issuing of IPO, PO or sending them to Safe House.

FSV Unit should assess every case presented with Risk Assessment Management tool so that they are able to evaluate the level of risk of lives and properties.

If the risk is very high, the perpetrator should be immediately arrested and charged, and if the risk is low, certain provisions in the law can be applied or employ blended approach in dealing with the issues [blended approach means use of government established laws & PNG customary laws to settle the issues].

The source said one of the issues the PNG Constabulary especially FSV Unit facing is the lack of highly skilled qualified manpower. The FSV Unit should be staffed with highly qualified Psychologists, Counselors, Social Welfare officers- Social Works Graduate etc. The source said that lack of skilled manpower can affect the effective implementation of Family Protection Acts.

The source said FV Unit must not concentrate on IPO or PO. Allow other key stakeholders to implement IPO or PO so that FSV Unit can concentrate on application of Family Protection Acts.