Papua New Guinea: Sorcery killings trial is a chance for justice

Responding to the trial in Papua New Guinea of 122 people charged with more than seven killings in 2014 of people accused of sorcery, Champa Patel, Amnesty International’s Director for Southeast Asia and the Pacific, said:

"For far too long, the killings of women accused of sorcery in Papua New Guinea have gone unpunished. They have often faced beatings, burnings and even public executions as the authorities have failed to act."

Champa Patel, Amnesty International’s Director for Southeast Asia and the Pacific

"For far too long, the killings of women accused of sorcery in Papua New Guinea have gone unpunished. They have often faced beatings, burnings and even public executions as the authorities have failed to act. This new trial is a chance to break with that tradition of impunity, if they are given fair trials without recourse to the death penalty."

Background

PNG still has the death penalty for murder and rape but has not executed in over 60 years. Recently they have started talking about using this to address violent crime.