Addressing sorcery accusation-related violence in the village court system of Papua New Guinea

Village court magistrates face a number of challenges in dealing with sorcery accusation-related violence (SARV) cases, including risk of assault, ambivalence about the reality of sorcery and its harms, low legal literacy and a need for more community policing. • Village court magistrates leverage a number of innovative opportunities to manage SARV cases as best as they can, such as their community leadership roles and reminding people of Christian values. • More support by way of training, community policing, higher level court oversight and more collaboration with state and non-state actors will help to strengthen and empower village courts to address SARV effectively