Evelyn Kunda, an activist currently residing in Aotearoa, is drawing attention to the grave issue of sorcery-related violence in Papua New Guinea. She emphasizes the urgent need for more robust laws to safeguard innocent individuals and ensure justice for victims.
In Papua New Guinea, individuals accused of sorcery often face violent assaults, torture, and even death, while survivors frequently find themselves ostracized from their communities.
Kunda expressed to RNZ that survivors are consistently let down by authorities in the Pacific region. She shared her sorrow over the impact of this violence on the children of victims, stating, “People would then proclaim, ‘This is the sorcery kid.’ The guy believes that they will teach the children [sorcery]. Where will they go next, then?”
She pointed out that accusations of sorcery are often exploited by thieves as a pretext for stealing homes, businesses, or land, with women frequently being the main targets.
In October 2023, Papua New Guinea’s MPs were informed about the alarming rates of gender-based and sorcery-related violence, which exceed previous reports. Port Moresby’s Governor, Powes Parkop, remarked that there is a strong desire for more decisive action from stakeholders throughout the country. He highlighted the significant prevalence of sorcery accusation related violence (SARV), although the precise number of annual attacks due to rumors about magic remains unknown, according to a study by the Australian think tank Devpolicy.
Research from the Devpolicy Blog noted in 2021 that it is challenging to gauge the frequency of SARV incidents across the other 18 provinces of PNG. They also highlighted that while a few cases make it to court, over 98% do not.
Kunda shared that she has witnessed instances where the number of perpetrators of sorcery violence far exceeds that of law enforcement, who often can do little more than observe. “We really need justice or law must be strong and then must go to the village or we must have to set by-laws in the communities,” she asserted.
In Goroka, Kunda offers support to anyone who seeks refuge at her home, stating, “[Victims] require aid. Thus, whenever they visit my home, even at odd hours such as one or two in the morning, they are welcome to do so if their lives are in danger.”
This year’s Whānau Mārama: New Zealand International Film Festival features a documentary focused on Kunda and her advocacy work. She emphasized the necessity of bringing global awareness to the crimes committed against innocent individuals in her country.
A collection of photographs depicting violence related to sorcery in Papua New Guinea is currently on exhibit in Porirua, Wellington. Kunda is part of a network of human rights defenders dedicated to supporting victims accused of sorcery in her homeland.