Trigger warning: The following story contains descriptions of family and sexual violence. Some readers may find this content distressing. Please take care while reading.

In a small Papua New Guinean village, one woman defied fear and stigma to protect her daughters and seek justice for the abuse they endured. Her bravery, supported by dedicated service providers, inspired her community to break the silence on violence and stand with survivors.

Aria* is a woman with disability who, despite experiencing ongoing threats, intimidation and social exclusion, fought to protect her two daughters from a cycle of sexual abuse. Her youngest daughter was 3 years old, and the eldest was 11 when their biological father started sexually abusing them. When Aria learned of the abuse, she refused to stay silent or to let fear and social stigma stop her from seeking help and justice.

Aria took steps to end the cycle of violence perpetrated against her children by reporting it to the Family Support Centre and later to the Provincial Police Head Quarters. Aria explained it was the first time a woman in her village reported this type of violence to authorities, and she was worried about the risk of social isolation and retaliation from the perpetrator’s family and the community leaders.

In 2021, police arrested and charged the father for the abuse. However, the court took over 3 years to deal with the case. During this time, the perpetrator’s family and some community leaders accused Aria and her children of fabricating the story. They found themselves facing an increasingly dangerous situation with mounting threats and intimidation from the father’s relatives to abandon the case.

To keep Aria and her children safe, the Public Prosecutor’s victim liaison officer involved with their case referred them in May 2024 to Femili PNG, who provided them with temporary, safe accommodation.

Whilst at the safe accommodation, the two children received emotional and psychological support as part of preparation for their appearance in Court. Aria also received case management support to help her navigate the legal process.

The Femili PNG case officer, Public Prosecutor lawyer, victim liaison officer, and probation officer worked together to ensure justice for Aria and her children. As a result, in May 2024, Aria’s elder daughter was able to successfully testify in the National Court, and a few weeks later, the National Court found the defendant guilty and sentenced him to 23 years of imprisonment. Then, with police assistance, Femili PNG successfully reintegrated Aria and her daughters into a safe and welcoming community in August 2024.

“Thank you to all the partners for your never-ending support in ensuring that justice was served to my daughters. They can finally return home without fear,” said Aria.

When Aria and her daughters returned to their home village, many young women and mothers from the community were eager to hear their story of resilience and justice. Aria became an advocate for other survivors of family and sexual violence, sharing her story of survival and the invaluable support she received from the various service providers. Her courage has inspired other women in the village to seek help and break free from the cycle of violence. One of their ward councillors also pledged to support Aria with her advocacy work in the broader community.

Aria’s journey in seeking justice for her daughters has also helped people in her community break the silence on violence and challenge the social and cultural norms that keep many women and children trapped in fear and a life of suffering.

*Not her real name. Identity withheld to protect the person’s privacy and safety.