Sorcery-related-violence is widespread in Melanesia. In the Highlands Region of Papua New Guinea witch-hunts occur almost in every province. Locals believe in “puripuri” - the black magic, often accusing random women of causing the death of someone from the village. According to Amnesty International the traditional belief in sorcery was responsible for at least 50 murders in 2008 alone, and many more are thought to have gone unreported. Although men can also fall victim to
these accusations, it is 6 times more likely for women. When those ‘sanguma’ women (witches) being tortured, locals cut their bodies with machetes and axes, burring them with hot iron bars, forcing to admit that they were involved in witchcraft. Many of these “punishments” result in the victim’s death. Even if the woman survives, she would be expelled from the community permanently. Despite this widespread violence, the PNG Government does not have a program to help victims of sorcery-related violence nor provides any shelter for those women. It is very rare such cases are brought to court and sometimes even police are involved in witch hunt, supporting the perpetrators, not women.