National Capital District Commission is planning to set up shelters for homeless and abandoned children with additional intention to create a central Child Protection Center.
The NCDC is working with other groups, like the police, legal system, and UN agencies, to make these changes happen, she said.
These plans have been activated following new revelations of a shocking number of child abuse cases in Papua New Guinea’s capital.
Yesterday, at City Hall, a presentation highlighted the urgent need for better child protection.
Danielle Winfrey from the National Capital District Commission (NCDC) shared the grim findings.
These shelters, she said, would provide a safe place and teach children important life skills.
She continued they hope this new center in Port Moresby can become a model for the rest of the country.
Manager Winfrey said this center would offer all needed services in one place, including medical care, legal help, and counseling.
“It would be a safe and child-friendly environment.”
The NCDC has already started a new Family and Gender Branch to help with this, she said.
They, she said, are hiring new staff to work in this area.
She was joined by Governor Powes Parkop and Dr. Najat Maalla M’jid, a UN representative focused on violence against children.
Since 2017, official records show more than 5,300 cases of violence against people in the NCD. Of these, 696 involved children.
However, Ms. Winfrey stressed that these numbers are only a small part of the problem, as many cases go unreported.
The report broke down the types of abuse. Sexual assault was common, with 256 child victims, mostly girls.
It highlighted that many boys and girls also suffered from emotional and physical abuse. There were also numerous cases of rape, particularly affecting young girls.
She said a major problem is that many abused children do not know where to get help.
“They might not trust the police or cannot travel to support centers,” she said.
“The current system makes things worse. Child victims often have to tell their story many times to different people, which can be very upsetting.”
They recently found over 200 children living on the streets of Port Moresby, the report said.