District Court, Vanimo, Aitape & Nuku
PNG's judicial system consists of Village Courts, District Courts and the National Court which is the superior trial court. Magisterial Services (established by section 173(1) of Constitution of Papua New Guinea) administers the District Court system within PNG, and there are 57 District Court establishments across the nation staffed by 88 magistrates and more than 500 court support staff.
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The District Court's key functional jurisdictions include:
The District Court uses formal and informal approaches for settling grievances, particularly in the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution. Magistrates can also make orders for a community work order to be undertaken by a defendant who has been found guilty. Where mitigating factors outweigh the aggravating factors, the defendant may be placed on probation with conditions for community work and/or payment of compensation. |
Contact: Vanimo District Court PO Box 40, Vanimo. Ph: 457 1470/1050, Fax: 457 1467 Aitape Distrit Court House PO Box 191, Aitape Ph: 457 2040 | CUG: 7191 1253 | Fax: 457 2040 Nuku Court House PO Box 57, Nuku | CUG: 7191 1269 |
Village Courts, West Sepik Province
Village Courts are an essential part of PNG's formal court system. They are established under the Village Courts Act 1989 and the Village Court Regulations 1973. There are more than 1,500 Village Courts across the country, supported by over 15,000 officials, including 900 women. Each Village Court has 4-5 Village Magistrates (appointed by the Minister for Justice as judicial officers), 3-4 Peace Officers, and 1 Clerk. Over 90% of people living in PNG have access to a Village Court, which have the jurisdiction to settle local disputes and deal with minor crimes using customary conflict-resolution approaches wherever possible.
Village Courts are the largest provider of restorative justice services in PNG, and are authorised to do the following:
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Contact: Mr Jack Sukap Provincial Village Courts Officer Office of the Provincial Administrator P.O. Box 332, Vanimo Sandaun Province Ph: 4571565 Facsimile: 457 1565/4571181 |
Probation, Parole & Juvenile Justice Services, Vanimo
CBC is an agency within the Department of Justice & Attorney General. CBC has offices in every province across PNG and it plays a central role in developing and implementing restorative justice programs throughout the country. It provides members of the community with access to community justice services which include the provision of non-custodial rehabilitation programs for both adult and juvenile offenders. This assists offenders to re-enter society as responsible, productive citizens.
CBC is responsible for:
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Contact: Senior Probation Officer Probation, Parole & Juvenile Justice Services Dept. Of Justice & Attorney General PO Box 338, Vanimo, WSP Ph/Fax: 457 1749 |
Provincial Administration & Dept. for Community Development, West Sepik
The Provincial Administrations across PNG have Community Development Branches, which provide services on behalf of the Department of Community Development. The Welfare Officers and Child Protection Officers employed by the Provincial Administration administer the provisions of a number of acts, including the Laukautim Pikinini Act, Deserted wife & Children Act, Marriage Act, National Youth Service Act, and National Council of Women Incorporation Act.
Provincial welfare, gender & child protection officers provide the following services to the public:
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Contact: The Principal Advisor Community Development Division Sandaun Provincial Government PO Box 373, Vanimo Ph: 457 1291 |
Catholic Church, West Sepik Province
The Catholic Church of Papua New Guinea is made up of 4 Archdioceses and 15 Dioceses in Vanimo, Aitape, Wewak, Lae, Madang, Mt Hagen, Wabag, Mendi, Goroka, Kundiawa, Kavieng, Kimbe, Rabaul, Kerema, Daru, Aloutau, Berina, and Port Moresby. The church runs numerous programs across PNG (regional contact details can be obtained by ringing the Port Moresby numbers below)
The church programs include:
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Contact: Vanimo Diocese | Ph: 457 1031/ 457 1244 Aitape Diocese | Ph: 457 2047 Youth Co-ordinator | Ph: 457 2047/457 2046 Sr Suanta, Co-ordinator Family Support Centre, Vanimo Diocese, PO Box 205, Vanimo | Ph: 457 1244/457 2046 Health Secretary | Ph: 547 1031/457 2111 |
YWCA, Vanimo
The Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) is a Christian-based global network of women leading social and economic change in 125 countries worldwide. It advocates for peace, justice, health, human dignity, freedom and care of the environment, and has been at the forefront of raising the status of women since it was founded in 1894. In PNG, the YWCA is a membership organisation open to women and girls who wish to share their skills and time to help other women and girls to develop and grow in Spirit, Body and Mind and to become leaders in advocacy and action for social justice. The YWCA has a head office in Port Moresby with a number of branches across the nation.
The YWCA has a number of core programs, including:
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Contact: Mrs Kila Amini, General Secretary Mrs Marie Balil, Programs Co-ordinator YWCA Port Moresby | PO Box 1883, BOROKO, NCD Ph: 325 6522 or 340 6927 Ms Janette Mewi - ARSH Project Site YWCA Vanimo | Ph: 7124 5423 |
Vanimo General Hospital
The Vanimo General Hospital has a number of services to the public in addition to its normal medical services, including:
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Contact: Mr/s Francis Petos - Manager Social Unit Family Support Centre, Vanimo General Hospital PO Box 331, Vanimo, Ph: 4571080 Mr Steven Janoram - Mental Health Service |
Vanimo Green Women's Council
The Vanimo Green Women's Council is a non-government organisation affiliated with the West Sepik Provincial Administration's Division for Community Development. This group is primarily concerned with equipping women with vocational and practical skills in order to improve their standard of living and contribution to society.
The Green Women's Council provides:
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Contact: Ms Susan Nali - President Vanimo Green Women's Council c/ Division of Community Development West Sepik Provincial Administration PO Box 169, Vanimo | Ph: 457 1294 |
Aiyawo Yelau Co-operative Society Ltd
The AYCS is a certified agricultural organisation registered with the Dept of Commerce, Trade & Industry. It seeks to provide basic agricultural training to local village farmers by lobbying government agencies (National, Provincial and LLGs), donor organisations, and service providers to provide short-term training courses in agriculture for small holder farmers and life skills training for women and youths in the community.
The Society provides programs on:
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Contact: Sylvester Omi Secretary, AYCS PO Ossol Village, Vanimo |
Sandaun Family Sexual Violence Action Committee
This Committee is the Sandaun branch of the National FSVAC network. Its key objective is to reduce the occurrence of all forms of violence against women and children. The Committee's main partners in Sandaun are Catholic Family Life Centres, the Family Support Centre at the Vanimo General Hospital, Council of Women, Police and Courts.
The Committee provides:
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Contact: Mr Eric Sakin Provincial Co-ordinator, FSVAC, Sandaun C/- Community Development Office WS Provincial Administration PO Box 169, Vanimo | Ph: 457 1294 |
Vanimo Correctional Institution, WSP
Our main purpose for conducting rehabilitation programs to detainees is to develop and implement initiatives to reintegrate offenders and reduction in re-offending. Thus, when a detainee is or has finished his prison sentence, how would have had new skills or trades to contribute meaningfully to his family, community and have honest living and employment of his own.
The Vanimo Correctional Institute also provides the following rehabilitation programs:
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Contact: Mr.Michael Wundia Commanding Officer (Superintendent) Mr. Jim Welly - Deputy Commanding Officer (Snr. Superintendent) | Ph: 457 1400 |
Department of Works - Vanimo, WSP
Department of Works in Vanimo on wards contracts below K500, 000.00 every quarter to people in the local communities to do clean –up and maintenance work to maintain the national highways, bridges, water supplies, government buildings, airports and airstrips, etc.
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The Department of Works in Vanimo provides the following services besides its main functions:
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Contact: Mr. Jonathan Poka Provincial Engineer PO BOX 210, VANIMO, West Sepik Province Phone/Fax: 457 1510 |
Sunbird Aviation - Vanimo, WSP
The organisation offers information and advice to:
1. Responsible government organisations
2. The people in the community, especially youth about the dangers of pornography and substance abuse and will assist in creating awareness
Sunbird Aviation offers the following services:
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Contact: Mr. Patrick Fuluvii - Base Manager Sunbird Aviation | Ph: 7133 3001 |
Lujang Home for Girls, WSP
The sisters of Lujang take in abused girls and orphans and raise them up by providing shelter, food, education and other things besides the basic necessities to give them a chance in life.
The Sisters of Lujang also provides:
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Contact: Sisters of Lujang - Lujang Home for Girls East Tower - PO. Box 105, VANIMO Sr. Ancilla Correita - Sister in Charge |
Community Justice Service Centre (CJSC) - Lumi, WSP
Community Justice Service Centre – is an integral element of National Government’s “respect agenda on service delivery” by joining hands with Provincial and Local Level Government, development partners, other government agencies, the private sector, Civil Society Organizations to improve local quality of life and to tackle anti social behaviour and crime associated behaviour and crime. Community Justice Centre brings law and justice and the community together, solving problems, reducing crime and building confidence.
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The SJSC’s conducts the following programs:
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Contact: Mr. Peter Paine CJSC Coordinator – Lumi P. O. Box 984, WEWAK, E.S.P Phone: 7978 1016 |
Caritas Papua New Guinea – Vanimo Catholic Diocese
Caritas PNG is an agency of the Catholic Bishops Conference (CBC) of PNG & Solomon Islands. They promote Integral Human Development of the grassroots citizens of PNG.The mission of Caritas PNG is to take active role in social justice, peace, ecology, and human development issues as part of the pastoral mission of the Church, promote Catholic Social Teaching, address injustice, inequalities, poverty and dependency which undermine human dignity, and be a voice for the poor and marginalized to build a better PNG.
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It has operates through main goals: Integral Human Development (IHD), Disaster & Relief Management, Helping the Poor and Marginalized, Research & Advocacy, Child Protection, Gender Equality, Ecological Stewardship & Care of God’s Creation, Democratic Governance.
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Contact: Mr. Tony Inikre Diocesan Caritas Coordinator Vanimo Catholic Diocese P O Box 205, Vanimo, Sandaun Province Ph: 457 1031 | Fax: 457 1105 Email:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Mr.Tony Francis - Diocesan Caritas Coordinator Catholic Diocese Aitape P O Box 179, Aitape, Sandaun Province Ph: 457 2046/7 | Fax: 457 2056 | Mob: 7251 5538 Email:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
National Youth Development Authority – Vanimo, West Sepik Province
The National Youth Development Authority is a government agency established to provide policy directives for the youth of PNG. It provides a framework for planning and program development for all agencies and organisations involved in youth development work. Inclusive in its policy area for stakeholders to develop and implement programs is Law Order and Justice with the objectives to promote, maintain safety, security and peace in communities.
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Contact: Jerry Kamaso - Staff Director P.O.Box 291, VANIMO, W.S.P Mob:724 20156/76967067 Ph:4571329 | Fax: 457 1020 / 457 1181 Eric Sandaun | Ph: 7378 5040 Florence Agen - Acting Director Community Developement P.O.Box 169,VANIMO,W.SP |