The Highlands SARV Movement is a coaliton of women-led frontline organisations focused on advancing peace, security and human rights in the region. The Movement is supported by the Australian Government, through the PNG-Australia Partnership, to build advocacy capacity and effectiveness.

Each of the five frontliners in the Movement has been working for over 20 years to build peace and gender equality in their communities and provinces. The frontliners bring a unique combination of Highlands networks, reach into communities, and technical expertise in conflict resolution, response and prevention that works for their context. They walk every step with survivors and essential service providers. They are a lifeline for survivors. They educate communities. They advocate for survivors' rights. They act as a bridge between responders, communities and services. And they coordinate at regional levels to amplify impact.

• Highlands Women Human Rights Defenders Movement (HWHRDM) – regional umbrella desk supporting frontliners and defenders.

• Kafe Urban Settlers Women’s Association (KUSWA) – based in Eastern Highlands, providing case management, crisis and reintegration support, referrals, and prevention initiatives.

• Kup Women for Peace (KWP) – from Simbu, mediating conflict, educating communities and supporting survivors.

• Rural Women’s Development Foundation (RWDF) – in Hela, offering safe housing and crisis support, livelihood programs, and case management.

• Voice for Change (VfC) – a ‘one-stop shop’ serving Jiwaka and Western Highlands, running crisis services, legal assistance, economic empowerment, and mediation.

Find out more here.

The Highlands SARV Movement prioritises building evidence on SARV and its impacts, as well as what works in responding to the issue.

In 2024, the Highlands SARV Movement led research to identify effective responses to SARV in the Highlands region. Based on a community-driven methodology, the research examined specific practices and approaches that lead to effective responses. It identified these practices by documenting successful cases of SARV response managed by each of the frontliners and coordinated with other essential service providers.

The research findings, together with the Movement’s case data, are documented in a number of publications:

Highlands SARV Movement. (2024). At the Frontline: Effective prevention and response to sorcery accusation-related violence in the Papua New Guinea Highlands. 

The complete research report intended for national decision-makers, researchers and SARV experts.

Highlands SARV Movement. (2026). At the Frontline of SARV in the Highlands: Lessons from research and case data.

A summary of the 2024 research and the frontliners case data from 2024/25, intended for national and provincial decision-makers, researchers and SARV experts.

Highlands SARV Movement. (2026). Helping People ‘Do No Harm’: Survivor-centred SARV response.

Nine essential ‘do no harm’ practices and recommended actions. Given the high potential to cause harm through uninformed SARV responses, this is an important publication for practitioners.