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Vadavada, Papua New Guinea
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19 March 2004
Village court
World Vision has helped in the training of Village Court officials in two squatter settlements.
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Actors show how community disputes can 'go bad'.
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Papua New Guinea’s judicial system is multi-tiered, from the highest authority, the Supreme Court, down to the Village Court, which has the power to hear cases involving physical injury, robbery and marital disputes.
The main function of a Village Court is to keep the peace in villages or settlements in its area (normally five or six villages).
Using a combination of customary and statutory law, the court can set fines or issue community work orders, and if an offender defaults on a fine without reasonable excuse, it can also recommend a jail sentence to a higher court.
In August 2003, the Vadavada Community Development Programme paid for uniforms for 17 ‘peace officers’, who were trained in their village policing responsibilities. World Vision also provided the venue, food, transport and trainers’ fees for follow-up training in December 2003 for 25 Village Court officials from the Vadavada and Kipo squatter settlements.
District and city law officials ran the three-day course, which included a role-play held before the assembled community. The play demonstrated an unsuccessful dispute mediation and subsequent Village Court hearing.
In the play, a couple’s garden was destroyed by a pig, which the couple identified as belonging to their neighbour. The infuriated gardener dragged his neighbour to see the damage, but the neighbour strenuously denied the accusation.
The argument turned into a brawl, which was broken up by the village peace officer. When an appearance before the mediation committee did not resolve matters, the committee referred the case to the Village Court. (Using a committee of mediators is preferable to using a single mediator, to prevent conflict of interest.)
At the Village Court, the gardener was able to produce a witness to verify that the offending pig did belong to the neighbour. The man finally confessed that it was his animal. The court imposed a fine on the pig owner for failing to fence his animal and for lying. The gardener received a lesser fine for assault. And to ensure that peace was maintained, the court ordered that the pig be slaughtered and the meat shared among the disputing parties.
The drama helped the settlers to understand better how a Village Court functions and how they can use its services. “The court officials are very important people,” the Port Moresby’s Village Court Inspector explained to the people. “Do not degrade them, as they are our leaders.”
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Vadavada project profile
VADAVADA STORY ARCHIVE
2005
Snippets
2004
Diploma for Dennis
Village court
Snippets
Showing his mettle
No looking back
Project extends
2003
Young man of vision
Snippets
Perseverance pays off
Illiterate dad goes to school
Families grow better life
Former drifter builds business
AIDS risk
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