Fr Philip Gibbs Highlights Need for Truth, Justice, and Community Leadership in Addressing Sorcery Accusation-Related Violence.

Caritas PNG Media Sensitisation Workshop – Goroka, 25–27 November 2025

Goroka: Speaking during the Media Sensitisation Workshop hosted by Caritas PNG

from 25th to the the 27th November 2025, Fr Philip Gibbs, SVD, delivered a powerful

reflection on the continuing challenges of Sorcery Accusation–Related Violence (SARV)

in Papua New Guinea and the pressing moral and pastoral responsibility of the Church,

media, and local communities to address it with courage and compassion.

Participants and Facilitators of the Media Sensitisation Workshop at Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province. Insert: Fr Philip Gibbs, SVD - Photo courtesy of Devpolicy Blog from the Development Policy Centre.

Fr Gibbs noted that while not all perpetrators of sorcery-related attacks are brought to

justice, some cases do result in convictions, instances which he believes the media

should highlight more prominently. “It is important for the public to know that people are

convicted for these crimes,” he said. “Greater awareness can help deter others from

becoming involved, knowing that such violence can lead to court and prison.”

From over a decade of ministry accompanying survivors, Fr Gibbs shared that he has

personally worked with about twenty individuals—both men and women—who were

falsely accused. “In all the cases I have dealt with, I am convinced of their innocence,”

he told participants. Many survivors, he said, continue to face deep social rejection

years after their ordeal, struggling to regain dignity and acceptance within their own

communities.

Insightful session with Caritas PNG during day one of the workshop.

Fr Gibbs emphasised that one of the Church’s critical roles is to help cultivate honest

reflection and healthy skepticism in communities where belief in sorcery is widespread.

He recounted the story of a friend in Wabag who rejected an accusation made against

another person when he fell ill, recognising instead that his illness had medical causes.

“When people hear stories that cast doubt, they begin to think twice,” Fr Gibbs

explained. “That change of mind is vital.”

He described how sorcery beliefs and practices vary greatly across the country and

continue to evolve. Some forms of sorcery are long-established, particularly in parts of

Western and Sepik regions, while other beliefs, such as the concept of yamaninnga in

Enga, have emerged only within the past decade. In some areas, youth groups have

exacerbated violence, while in others, young people have taken leadership roles in

resisting SARV and promoting peaceful alternatives, including in the Ambon Valley.

Fr Gibbs also underscored the essential role of responsible journalism and pastoral

accompaniment in giving survivors a voice. Recent full-page features in national

newspapers have highlighted the deep shame, trauma, and social isolation faced by

victims. He described the struggles of a young woman who, eight years after being

tortured, still feels unable to ask her community for assistance because she remains

viewed with suspicion.

Questions and Answers with Fr Philip Gibbs, SVD and Secretary for CBC/SOCOM, Sr. Daisy Anne Lisania Augustine, MSC

Reflecting on the path forward, Fr Gibbs cited the words of Bishop Arnold Orowae of

Wabag, who has said that SARV will only end when communities themselves decide to

renounce it entirely. “It must be a community decision,” Fr Gibbs reaffirmed.

Increasingly, families, particularly men concerned for the safety of their daughters and

wives, are recognising the need to stand against such violence.

The workshop, coordinated by Caritas PNG, brought together media personnel, Church

representatives and representatives from the mainstream media to strengthen

responsible reporting and foster collaborative approaches to ending SARV nationwide.

As Fr Gibbs concluded, the Church remains committed to truth, justice, and the

protection of all human life, standing alongside survivors and encouraging communities

to choose peace over fear.