Survivors of family and sexual violence will have improved access to the legal system and support services when a nationwide training program for advocates is rolled out from June 2018.
Advocates including social workers, seifhaus staff, and community leaders are among those who will be trained to use the Survivor Advocate Toolkit, to help ensure survivors of family and sexual violence get the support they need.
The Toolkit is a user-friendly guide that uses illustrations and step-by-step instructions to explain family and sexual violence, define the law, set out the role of police and the courts, and identify support services.
The training program is being carried out following a final round of testing and fine tuning including an information session with Senior Magistrate, Rosemary Koimo and 10 family and sexual violence workers from the Boroko District Court House.
Among those who attended the session was Family Support Centre Clinical Manager Tessie Soi, who has backed the rollout of the Toolkit.
Ms Soi said the guide’s simple layout and clear language would make it an extremely useful aid for the centre’s social workers and medical staff who treat more than 1000 survivors each year.
The Toolkit has been developed by the Consultative Implementation & Monitoring Council – Family and Sexual Violence Action Committee in consultation with the Department of Justice and Attorney General, Office of the Public Prosecutor and Public Solicitor’s Office, and supported by the Australian Government through the Justice Services and Stability for Development Program.
For further information, including access to related materials, please contact the Australian High Commission media team: +675 7090 0100
Senior Magistrate Rosemary Koimo explains legal measures available to survivors of family and sexual violence (FSV), at an information session with frontline service providers at the Boroko District Court House, Port Moresby.