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Acknowledgements

Zama Coursen-Neff, senior researcher for the Children’s Rights Division of Human Rights Watch, authored this report based on her research and that of Michael Bochenek, deputy director of the Children’s Rights Division. Michael Bochenek contributed to and edited the report. Lois Whitman, executive director of the Children’s Rights Division; Brad Adams, executive director of Human Rights Watch’s Asia Division; and Joe Saunders, deputy program director, also edited the report. Joanne Mariner, deputy director of Human Rights Watch’s America’s Division, provided legal review. Rebecca Schleifer, researcher with Human Rights Watch’s HIV/AIDS program; and Nisha Varia, researcher with Human Rights Watch’s Women’s Rights Division, also reviewed and commented on the report. Ranee Adipat, Mary Race, and Jo-Anne Prud’homme provided research assistance. Ranee Adipat, Fitzroy Hepkins, and Andrea Holley produced the report.

Human Rights Watch sincerely thanks all of the individuals, including the children, who agreed to be interviewed for this report. Their willingness to share information and their experiences with us, sometimes at personal risk, made this report possible.

We wish to express our deep appreciation to the many individuals and organizations who generously assisted us with our research.  We are grateful to Anou Borrey; Dr. Sinclair Dinnen and others at the Australian National University; East New Britain Sosel Eksen Komiti (ENBSEK); East Sepik Council of Women; Naomi Yupae and staff of Eastern Highlands Family Voice, Inc.; Toni Fofoe; Sarah Garap; HELP Resources; Lady Hilan Los, Individual and Community Rights Advocacy Forum (ICRAF); the Institute for Medical Research; Milne Bay Counseling Service; Port Moresby City Mission; Powes Parkop; the Salvation Army; Save the Children in Papua New Guinea, including the Poro Sapot Project; Freda Talao; Ume Waitnetti, Family and Sexual Violence Action Committee; and World Vision.

Human Rights Watch also thanks the Papua New Guinean government officials who agreed to be interviewed for this report, including officials of the Correctional Service, the Department of Education, the Department of Justice, the Department of Social Welfare, the National AIDS Council, the Ombudsman Commission, the Public Solicitor’s office, and the Solicitor General’s office; members of the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary, including Detective Sergeant Roland T. Funmat, Chief Superintendent John Maru, Assistant Commissioner John Wan, and constabulary members in Alotau, Kokopo, Goroka, and Wewak; members of the Juvenile Justice Working Group; and officials of other governments, including of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade; the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID); the Australian Federal Police; ACIL; Robert W. Fitts, U.S. Ambassador to Papua New Guinea; and Robert W. Farrand, former U.S. Ambassador to Papua New Guinea.

Finally, we acknowledge with appreciation the support of the Countess Moira Charitable Foundation, the Independence Foundation, the Link Foundation, and the Oak Foundation.




<<previous  |  indexSeptember 2005