Papua New Guinea’s Highlands face severe sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), including sorcery accusation-related violence (SARV). The last national Demographic and Health Survey (PNG DHS 2016–18) reports that 56% of women aged 15–49 experienced physical violence since age 15 and 28% experienced sexual violence; among ever-married women, 63% reported spousal emotional/physical/sexual violence. Help-seeking remains limited (35% sought help, while 39% neither sought help nor told anyone). Women also commonly report distance to facilities and cost as key barriers to accessing healthcare (PNG DHS 2016–18).

SARV is widely under-reported. A Papua New Guinea National Research Institute issue paper (March 2024) notes fragmented reporting but still documents 1,039 SARV cases affecting 1,554 people across four provinces (2016–2020), with 29% of recorded cases resulting in violence; UNDP notes SARV mostly targets women and girls.

MSF began setting up a project in Jiwaka province, located in the Highlands region, in 2024 to improve access to safe, confidential, respectful and free care for survivors of all forms of violence (intercommunal fighting, election-related violence, SGBV). The approach is capacity building as well as health promotion and community engagement: strengthening provincial systems (not replacing them) so services remain after MSF leaves. MSF has supported the establishment of one Family Support Centre (FSC) for first-line medical and psychosocial care, and is training Village Health Volunteers so they can provide basic first aid and guide communities to the right services and referral points.