UN Chief receives the report No One Should Stand Alone

Sep 13

*During a recent visit to Mount Hagen, PNG, the United Nations Secretary-General received a copy of the report* *No One Should Stand Alone, given to him by Professor Father Philip Gibbs, the President of Divine Word University. Read on to find out more*.

Photo credit: Ms Michelle Steven

by Philip Gibbs

13 September 2025

In early September 2025, Secretary-General António Guterres visited Papua New Guinea (PNG) for a historic visit to mark the country’s 50th year of Independence. It was the first time that a serving Secretary-General had visited PNG.

During an official event at Rondon Ridge, Mount Hagen, I was able to meet the UN Chief in person and took this opportunity to present the report No One Should Stand Alone: Towards a Unified Response to Sorcery Accusation Related Violence.

*Prof Fr Philip Gibbs presenting the report and curriculum.*
Photo credit: Ms Renat Muruket

As part of the evening event, I spoke directly to the Secretary-General. I began by explaining my role and the challenges facing the Highlands provinces:

‘I am a Catholic priest. I have been working here in Papua New Guinea for more than 50 years - mostly in the Highlands, especially in the Enga Province. When you live and work in Enga, you cannot avoid becoming involved in peace work. But other urgent needs arise too, such as gender issues and, very painfully, the growing problem of Sorcery Accusation-Related Violence (SARV).’

I then proceeded to present the report to the Secretary-General:

‘Today, I serve as the president of a university. From that position, I know how important it is that our policies and plans are evidence-based. That is why, together with the National Research Institute and some other organisations, we have done a study of SARV in the Highlands. And we have a report, and I would like to give you a copy. It is called:

No One Should Stand Alone:
Towards a Unified Response to Sorcery Accusation Related Violence.

It is long - more than 100 pages - but there is a nice 10-page executive summary, which is worth reading.

We have discovered new findings. For instance, that sorcery accusation-related violence is not uniform throughout the Highlands. People talk about the ‘Highlands and SARV’. It is not uniform either among the provinces or within the provinces. Also, there are victims who are suffering that we hadn't thought of before - like secondary victims. There are many findings in the report, so I would like to give you a copy, and you can pass it on to your people.

We also feel it is important that there is action, not just study. So, we have developed a curriculum - a whole community curriculum to help educate people and create awareness of the evil of sorcery accusation-related violence.’

I then handed the report and curriculum to Secretary-General António Guterres. As I did so, I mentioned that I had once interned at the United Nations back in 2015.

*Prf Fr Philip Gibbs hands a copy of the report to the UN Secretary-General*
Photo credit: Ms Michelle Steven

With a warm smile, the Secretary-General accepted the report and curriculum with great graciousness and simply said,

Thank you very much. This is important.

The room broke into applause, a photo was taken, and he returned to his table. I returned to mine, quietly grateful that these words, and this work, had been placed before the Secretary-General.