Family and sexual violence in PNG is extremely complex, with up to 68% of women experiencing violence at some stage in their lives. Out of these survivors, less than 35% will seek help.

Navigating the complex care and justice systems can be difficult for survivors to do on their own. Many need support accessing safe accommodation, medical assistance, law and justice interventions, financial and vocational resources, and more.

Opening their doors in 2014, Femili PNG was established to help survivors access support from the many different service providers. They were the first Papua New Guinean organisation to take a case management approach to supporting survivors.

In the past 10 years, Femili PNG has assisted over 7,000 survivors of family and sexual violence to access the care they need. Their organisation has grown from just 7 staff in Lae to 65 staff across three locations. Services expanded to Port Moresby in 2018 under the Bel isi PNG initiative, where they also operate a safe house; and to Goroka in 2021 after noticing an increasing number of survivors travelling to access services.

Femili PNG now takes in almost 90 new clients a month. They support about 100 women and children in safe house accommodation every night, and help 20 clients every month obtain protection orders.

In addition to providing case management assistance, Femili PNG undertakes extensive outreach in communities and schools to raise awareness about family and sexual violence and what help is available. They train community leaders to support survivors locally; work in close collaboration with other service providers to enhance their impact; and help coordinate family and sexual violence services in the regions where they operate. Femili PNG also undertakes research-based advocacy, working to improve government responses to gender-based violence.

You can learn more about Femili PNG in their annual report.