2nd Anniversary of the Death of Kepari Leniata

By the Committee Against Sorcery Accusation Related Violence

Port Moresby, 5 February 2015 – The Committee Against Sorcery Accusation Related Violence acknowledges the two-year anniversary of the murder of Ms. Kepari Leniata, who was accused of sorcery and publicly tortured and killed in Mount Hagen on 6 February 2013.  The case became emblematic of the violence and killings resulting from sorcery accusations in Papua New Guinea. Two years later, the perpetrators of this act have yet to be arrested, or prosecuted in court. On the second anniversary of this case, this Committee would like to reflect on violence related to sorcery accusations in the country and review action taken to address this violence, and what further needs to be done.

Countless women, men, and even children have been subjected to brutal violence, killings, harassment, or expulsion from their communities due to accusations of sorcery. These acts are a serious breach of human rights and violate the fundamental right to life, freedom from torture and other cruel, and inhuman treatment, and protection of the law guaranteed in the Constitution of Papua New Guinea and international human rights standards to which Papua New Guinea is a State Party.

Ms. Leniata’s murder led to an outcry against such acts. Building on this, some positive steps are beginning to take place.

The Department of Justice & Attorney General has led the development of the Draft National Action Plan on Sorcery and Witchcraft Accusation Related Violence, which is pending approval from the National Executive Council. Finalized in 2014, the Draft National Action Plan was developed in consultation with key stakeholders from across the country, and advances a multi-sectoral approach, through five core areas: 1) care and counselling; 2) advocacy and communications; 3) Legal and protection; 4) Health; and 5) Research.

Other notable and positive efforts include joint local action taken by select police officers, provincial government representatives, and missionaries to protect victims from violence and torture stemming from sorcery accusations, such as that reported in Enga in December 2014 and January 2015.  These actions are laudable and should be institutionalized and supported to enable wide protection to prevent escalation of violence and evacuate and assist victims, as police officers play the first line of protection for victims. Brave private citizens and members of civil society also continue to play a key role in providing protection and assistance to victims of sorcery accusation related violence.

This Committee also welcomes Justice Kassman’s independent inquiry of his own initiative into the circumstances surrounding the death of Ms. Leniata, as a step towards strengthening responses in the future. The Committee emphasizes the need to ensure individual criminal accountability by ensuring suspected perpetrators are processed in a timely manner by the criminal justice system.

This Committee calls for the support of all citizens to end violence related to allegations of sorcery, and to take action to prevent such horrific violence and killings. Only through the combined efforts of the Government and the public, can we collectively ensure that no more people will be subjected to the same fate as Ms. Leniata and countless others.

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