Family and Sexual Violence

  • For Family Sexual Violence, the constabulary took a bold step in 2009 when the constabulary first introduced the concept of Family and Sexual Violence (FSVU) with a small room in the Boroko Police Station. 
  • Family and Sexual Violence (FSV) is often referred to as the intention of a person using violence to exert power and control to ensure what convenient, useful and functional to them. The intention can be to harm or intimidate in order to control. 
  • FSV is a crime, and the perpetrator need to face the law whether they are in a marriage or not. The person-man, woman, child-who is being abused has the right and we cannot stop him/her from seeking police help and exercising that right. 
  • Hundred members of the constabulary have been trained specifically to deal with FSVU nationwide. Constabulary is committed in dealing with these various forms of violence whose victims are usually women and girls.
  • The management of RPNGC is not complacent, nor is not uninterested, or unconcerned when it comes to family and sexual violence.  
  • The FSV Units and desks throughout the country serve an average between 65-75 per cent of the victims or survivors coming to the Police Station daily.  

RPNGC FSVU help desk are there to;

  • To provide a safe and comfortable environment for complainants to lodge complaints of family & sexual violence.
  • Deal with victims of FSV in a sensitive and non-judgmental manner.
  • Investigate cases of FSV reported to the unit.
  • Ensure all cases of FSV are dealt with on a timely basis
  • Provide relevant support to complainants during the court processes. 
  • To prosecute those who commit crimes of FSV such as assaults, wounding, attempted murder, incest, rapes, and sexual assaults should be recorded and investigated.
  • Responsible for devising and formulating police force policies and procedures for handling cases on FSV areas, and for ensuring a coordinated police response to reports of FSV cases.
  • To protect the victim and his/her children from attack
  • To ensure that they are not subject to any risk of further violence, at least in the short term.
  • To take firm and positive actions against the alleged offender and investigate any offences that may have been committed.
  • To serve domestic incident notice on the alleged offender
  • To refer the victim and/or the alleged offender to appropriate support and counselling services.
  • If there is evidence of a crime, the perpetrator should be arrested, irrespective of the victim’s wishes. All the offences already referred to depend upon the police taking action in the particular case. For various reasons, such as lack of alternate accommodation, fear, or a desire to continue relationship and a belief that criminal proceedings will prevent that happening, a victim of abuse may reluctant to cooperate with the police. 

Role of a FSVU to victims

  • Tell them you are not alone. You care about them and you are there to listen or help in any way you can. Let the victims know that you are there for them and willing to listen to their story if they are comfortable sharing it.
  • Let the person know they are not alone and help is available. The assistance and support provided to victims following an experience of victimization can play an important role in helping to reduce the impact of crime by providing victims with supports to address the trauma they may have experienced as a result of the crime committed against them.
  • FSVU gives survivors better access to justice. The survivors of the family and sexual violence will have better access to justice and support services at the family and sexual violence unit established nationwide.
  • Give survivors place where they can report assaults and seek advice and support in privacy, comport and safety.
  • FSVU facilities ensuring survivors of FSV access justice and protection services in a secure, and more comfortable environment.
  • Improving access to services for survivors of FSV.  
  • The FSVU center provides emergency health services, trauma, counselling and safe accommodation and case management services for survivors of FSV who are mainly women and children.
  • Domestic violence is not private matter and police are working with partners to provide much needed support to those affected ones. The constabulary wants to ensure that women and girls who visits the FSV units in their respective provinces have a comfortable space and privacy.
  • The FSV victims need to tell police about their stories. The FSV units have trained officers who are there to attend to queries and complaints. 
  • setting up FSVU facilities to deal with matters relating to the family and sexual violence in police station gives women and girls space and privacy.

Advise

  • If you, or someone you know is experiencing family and sexual violence or child abuse, FSVU may be able to help you through our centers in Port Moresby, Lae and others centers as well.
  • We provide free integrated case management to survivors of family and sexual violence to ensure they get the help they need.
  • Strengthening the nationwide response and providing improved services to survivors send a strong message that family and sexual violence is unacceptable and must be addressed. 
  • If you have been a victim or abuse there are organizations and groups that can give free advice and support to help you deal with the impact of a crime.
  • The FSVU are open Monday to Friday each day in Port Moresby and other centers where FSVU are set up so you can always report it. We are here to help you (survivors of the FSV).