Rising Voices, Persisting Barriers
In Port Moresby and other parts of Papua New Guinea, survivors of domestic abuse often encounter a system that feels slow, intimidating, and inaccessible. The reality described by safety advocates is stark: many women and men who suffer violence must physically queue in front of police stations to file reports, navigate mandatory procedures, and seek refuge. This is not just a problem of paperwork but of trust, safety, and access to resources that can help break a cycle of violence.
The Reality on the Ground
Survivors like Fiona—a pseudonym used to protect a real person’s identity—describe nights spent wandering streets with little or no shelter after an abusive episode. Stories like hers reveal a broader pattern: fear, stigma, and a lack of immediate, practical support push people to make harrowing choices simply to survive another day. The scene outside police stations, while a symbol of accountability, often becomes a waiting room where language barriers, limited gender-sensitive services, and long queues amplify the trauma rather than alleviate it.
Why the queues exist
Several factors contribute to this queueing reality. Police stations may operate with limited staff, especially in provincial centers. Shelter and legal aid services are underfunded, and mandatory reporting requirements can add layers of bureaucracy. For survivors already grappling with financial insecurity and stigma, the process can feel dehumanizing rather than protective. In many communities, reporting violence is also a family or community decision, complicating whether to seek formal help through authorities at all.
Impact of Delays and Bureaucracy
Delays in processing reports, issuing protective orders, or coordinating with social services can leave survivors exposed to renewed risk. The window after an incident is fragile; without timely intervention, violence may resume, sometimes with even greater severity. Advocates emphasize that prompt, confidential support—legal aid, medical care, safe housing—must accompany reporting to halt cycles of abuse and empower survivors to rebuild their lives.
What Is Needed to Improve Access
Experts and survivors alike argue for a multi-pronged approach:
- Improved funding for women’s shelters and crisis centers where survivors can access immediate safety, counselling, and legal advice.
- Gender-sensitive policing that recognizes trauma, ensures informed, respectful intake, and reduces retraumatization during reporting.
- Streamlined reporting procedures with clear, confidential pathways, including alternatives to in-person queues when appropriate.
- Community outreach and education to reduce stigma and encourage early reporting, creating a more supportive environment for survivors.
- Integrated services that connect police, health care, legal aid, and social protection programs to deliver holistic care.
Voices Behind the Numbers
Behind every statistic is a person seeking safety. Survivor networks, NGOs, and frontline responders highlight that progress depends on sustained investment, local leadership, and accountability. When survivors feel seen and protected, reporting becomes less about a daunting ritual and more about a pathway to protection and regeneration for families and communities.
A Call to Action
Change won’t happen overnight, but it is possible. Policymakers, law enforcement, and civil society must partner to simplify access to protection orders, expand safe housing options, and ensure survivors have a voice in policing reforms. By centering survivor safety and dignity, Papua New Guinea can transform a painful bottleneck into a robust protection system that keeps families safe.
