2009 in Goroka, Madang and Waigani, regarding the issue of WAP, stating that at the workshops will be ‘resolutions reached used by the Office to reform the current This lack of information by PNG was highlighted within the legislation.’ Committee’s Concluding Observations on PNG on 30 July 2010. In this report, the Committee acknowledges the establishment of a working committee to review the law on sorcery and sorcery-related killings; however, expresses grave concern regarding reports of torture and killings of women and girls, especially older women, accused of in particular, the fact that the ‘brutal witchcraft,’ number of female victims is increasing. The Committee also highlights the limited response from PNG on this issue stating, The Committee regrets the lack of information on the prevalence of this phenomenon as well as on any investigations, prosecutions and punishments of the perpetrators. The Committee underlines that this is a grave violation of girls and human rights and of the State obligations under the Convention. women’s party’s In light of this the Committee issues the following recommendations to PNG. PNG must immediate and ‘take effective measures to investigate the incidences of torture and killings of women and girls, especially based on older women’ WAP, and punish the perpetrators of such acts and prevent their reoccurrence in the its review of ‘prosecute future,’ ‘accelerate the law of sorcery and sorcery-related the enforcement of relevant and its killings,’ ‘strengthen legislation’ ‘strengthen awareness-raising and educational efforts, targeted at both women and with the support of civil society and the men,’ involvement of community chiefs and religious leaders. The very fact that following the ratification of CEDAW, in 1995, PNG then proceeded to miss four reporting deadlines immediately shows a lack of willingness by PNG to comply with the Convention. Once the reports had finally been submitted, the lack of information and limited response by PNG, in relation to the prevalence of women murdered through WAP, only substantiates this lack of engagement. Moreover, as noted by the UNHCR, the fourth periodic report of PNG was due to be submitted to the CEDAW Committee on 1 July 2014. To date, this has not been submitted. 5.4.5 Evaluation of the CEDAW Committee
2009 in Goroka, Madang and Waigani, regarding the issue of WAP, stating that ‘resolutions reached at the workshops will be used by the Office to reform the current legislation.’ This lack of information by PNG was highlighted within the Committee’s Concluding Observations on PNG on 30 July 2010. In this report, the Committee acknowledges the establishment of a working committee to review the law on sorcery and sorcery-related killings; however, expresses grave concern regarding reports of ‘brutal torture and killings of women and girls, especially older women, accused of witchcraft,’ in particular, the fact that the number of female victims is increasing. The Committee also highlights the limited response from PNG on this issue stating, The Committee regrets the lack of information on the prevalence of this phenomenon as well as on any investigations, prosecutions and punishments of the perpetrators. The Committee underlines that this is a grave violation of girls and women’s human rights and of the State party’s obligations under the Convention. In light of this the Committee issues the following recommendations to PNG. PNG must ‘take immediate and effective measures to investigate the incidences of torture and killings of women and girls, especially older women’ based on WAP, ‘prosecute and punish the perpetrators of such acts and prevent their reoccurrence in the future,’ ‘accelerate its review of the law of sorcery and sorcery-related killings,’ ‘strengthen the enforcement of relevant legislation’ and ‘strengthen its awareness-raising and educational efforts, targeted at both women and men,’ with the support of civil society and the involvement of community chiefs and religious leaders. The very fact that following the ratification of CEDAW, in 1995, PNG then proceeded to miss four reporting deadlines immediately shows a lack of willingness by PNG to comply with the Convention. Once the reports had finally been submitted, the lack of information and limited response by PNG, in relation to the prevalence of women murdered through WAP, only substantiates this lack of engagement. Moreover, as noted by the UNHCR, the fourth periodic report of PNG was due to be submitted to the CEDAW Committee on 1 July 2014. To date, this has not been submitted. 5.4.5 Evaluation of the CEDAW Committee
PHD_whole_Amendments_post_viva_2016_.docx