An overwhelming majority of Papua New Guineans are demanding urgent government action to tackle sorcery accusation-related violence (SARV), according to a ground-breaking national survey conducted by the Melanesian Institute.
Captured from 2, 000 respondents across every province, the findings highlight a stark public mandate: 95% of citizens feel the Government is failing to prevent SARV, while 96% believe it falls short in supporting survivors and prosecuting perpetrators.
Speaking at the findings’ launch event in Goroka, Brother Martin Tnines, Executive Director of the Melanesian Institute, stressed the critical need for immediate intervention.
He noted that SARV claims hundreds of lives annually across PNG and called on the Government to immediately publish, fund, and implement its revised SARV National Action Plan (SNAP).
Although the revised framework exists to strengthen legal enforcement, prevention, and survivor care, it currently remains unpublished, unfunded, and unexecuted- leaving vulnerable communities without essential state support.
Public consensus on actionable solutions is nearly unanimous.
An astounding 99% of respondents believe the Government must fund the SNAP.
Furthermore, over 90% want dedicated resources for community advocacy, specialized rapid-response police units in high-risk provinces, and guaranteed free medical care for survivors at health facilities.
A notable 86% also support a complete ban on sharing social media videos and photos depicting SARV acts.
The data underscores both the pervasive reach of SARV and a clear cultural shift against violence.
While 90% of respondents report that SARV occurs within their communities and 68% acknowledge a personal belief in sorcery, 89% firmly reject violence as a response, condemning it as morally wrong.
Supported by the PNG-Australia Partnership, the Melanesian Institute- which has led research and advocacy on SARV for over four years- vows to build on these findings alongside civil society and media partners until the violence ends.
