Femili PNG Update 2022

Femili PNG is a proud partner in the Bel isi PNG Initiative, providing assistance to survivors of family and sexual violence to subscribing companies and the public. Femili PNG, a local PNG NGO headquartered in Lae, operates the Bel isi case management centre and safe house.

Femili PNG’s caseworkers work with survivors of family and sexual violence to link them with the assistance they need. This assistance can include access to emergency accommodation, protection orders, law and justice interventions, health and welfare referrals, counselling and information on options. In some circumstances, survivors are assisted to return to their home provinces to escape an abusive relationship. If a survivor requires a means of economic support, Femili PNG also sometimes provides a business start-up kit, which is usually items for bilum or soap-making, seeds or poultry, and so forth, depending on the needs and circumstances of the survivor.

From August to October this year, the Bel isi case management centre assisted 102 clients, of which 95 were new cases and 7 were re-opened cases. Since opening its doors in 2018, the Bel isi case management centre has assisted over 1,500 survivors of violence. Most clients who accessed the Bel isi case management centre from August to October were female adults at 88% of total survivors. 87% of clients were presenting because of intimate partner violence. Of the total survivors assisted, 18% identified as living with a disability.

The clients access the Bel isi CMC through several different ways – many are walk-ins by members of the public (28% of clients in August to October) while others are referred from police (27%) or safe houses (7%). Bel isi business subscribers referred 27% of clients in August to October 2022.

When survivors are referred to the Bel isi CMC, Femili PNG’s caseworkers empower them to determine their short and long-term goals and outcomes. Overwhelmingly, most survivors are seeking a protection order. To assist survivors to achieve their outcomes, the caseworkers take a case management approach which involves a series of follow-up consultations with clients, service providers, and sometimes family members. From August to October, Femili PNG caseworkers conducted 1,145 follow-up consultations, an average of 382 per month.

Over the last three months, survivors were assisted to lodge 25 applications for interim protection orders (IPOs), 14 IPOs were granted and 7 issued. Six IPOs were converted into longer-term protection orders. Other outcomes for survivors included 14 police cases registered and investigated, and three perpetrators arrested. Three clients and five child dependents were repatriated back to their home provinces, and three survivors were assisted with business start-up kits.

Where a client is considered at high risk and it is not safe for them to return home, referrals are made to safe emergency accommodation. From August to October 2022, the Bel isi CMC referred 69 individuals (clients and their dependents) to safe accommodation. Over half of these were to the Bel isi safe house. During the same time, the Bel isi safe house supported 49 individuals, ensuring their care and protection.

Femili PNG is pleased to be working as part of the Bel isi PNG Initiative to stop gender-based violence. We are grateful for the support and partnership of OSF, BSP, Steamships, BCFW and NCDC.

For the festive period, Bel isi Case Management Centre will be open on normal working days except on public holidays (26th & 27th December and 02nd January 2023). Subscribers can call 70554401 for assistance.