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Good practice Imported

Family and Sexual Violence Units - Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary

Papua New Guinea · Port Moresby · See the Papua New Guinea profile · See the Port Moresby profile

Evidence: Observational / pre–post Top 55% 63/100 · Ask Evidence Copilot about this practice

Since 2007, PNG's police-based Family and Sexual Violence Units and province-wide Family Support Centres have processed thousands of domestic-violence cases yearly, but an independent review found only 7 of 17 units fully functioning and very low conviction rates.

2,013
Family-and-sexual-violence cases recorded (Waigani/NCD unit) (one reporting period)
195
Arrests (same reporting period)
11
Convictions (same reporting period)
960
Referrals to health/legal/social services (same reporting period)
25
Australian-funded units nationally
106
Officers operating nationally
7 of 17
Units 'fully functioning' (2015)
22
Family Support Centres (one per province)
~60%
Intimate-partner violence prevalence, women 15-49

Details

Maturity
Established
Promoter
Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC)
Period
2007-present
Keywords
policing, gender-based violence, justice sector, public safety

Context

Since 2007-08, the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC) has established specialised Family and Sexual Violence Units (FSVUs), funded and technically supported by the Australian Government (DFAT) and UN Women, in response to a national intimate-partner-violence prevalence estimated at nearly 60% of women aged 15-49 -- among the highest rates recorded worldwide. The model was formalised under PNG's 2013 Family Protection Act and paired with 22 hospital-based Family Support Centres, one per province.

Objectives

The FSVUs aim to provide a specialised police response to family and sexual violence, referring survivors to health, legal and social services.

Activities

In the Waigani/National Capital District unit, one reporting period recorded 2,013 family-and-sexual-violence cases, leading to 195 arrests, 11 convictions and 960 referrals to health, legal and social services -- figures published by the Australian High Commission in Port Moresby, which also reported 25 Australian-funded units and 106 officers operating nationally at that time.

Results

A 2015 Human Rights Watch investigation found only 7 of the 17 units then established were 'fully functioning,' citing chronic understaffing (as few as three officers per unit in the Highlands), a lack of vehicles and fuel blocking rural response, and a tendency for police to push informal reconciliation rather than arrest or prosecution -- reflected in the low arrest-to-conviction ratio.

Conclusions

The programme remains substantially dependent on continued Australian aid funding, and reach into remote provinces stays limited.

Implementation
Indicative cost
Medium (€50k–€500k)
Time to results
Long (> 3 years)
Staffing & skills
Specialised Family and Sexual Violence Units within the Royal PNG Constabulary, As few as 3 officers per unit in the Highlands (understaffed)

Conditions for success

  • Sustained Australian DFAT and UN Women funding and technical support
  • Vehicles and fuel for rural response

Common failure modes

  • Only 7 of 17 units 'fully functioning' (HRW, 2015)
  • Police tendency to push informal reconciliation rather than arrest/prosecution
  • Heavy dependency on continued Australian aid funding

Where it fits

Governance type
Commonwealth parliamentary democracy
Scale
national (province-level units)
Income level
lower-middle income

Commonly funded by

National / regional programmes

Indicative funding routes for practices of this type — always check each programme's current calls and eligibility rules.

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Data sources

Where this practice's information was retrieved from, and when.

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