This review aims to undertake a broad and indicative outline of the available literature and interventions on the subject of resettling violence victims in a number of national contexts, as well as with respect to experiences in Papua New Guinea (PNG). The ultimate aim of this research is to provide an introductory evidence-base to policy-makers and practitioners in order that informed decisions can be made on best or ‘promising practices’ from global and PNG-specific experiences with respect to the resettlement of survivors of violence – for the most part in PNG itself, but with relevance to similarly practices taking place throughout AusAid’s portfolio of work. A key audience will also be business actors, who also bear associated costs of GBV in PNG, and who may have several roles to play in recouping those costs. For these purposes, this paper accompanies a parallel piece of research examining methods to assess the costs to business of GBV in PNG (see Williams 2014).

In order to maximise the usefulness and potential uptake of this research, five overarching questions have been developed that are informed by priorities developed by Oxfam Australia in an ongoing research initiative funded by AusAid-DFAT, namely, ‘the preparation of a research report on services for the survivors of violence’. The four key questions are:

1. What is the scope and type of resettlement mechanisms that have been undertaken globally and in PNG with respect to survivors of sexual and gender-based violence? What resources, funding modalities, guidelines and criteria are attached to these that assist future policy and programming?

2. What are the linkages between formal and informal resettlement initiatives and how do they operate in practice?

3. What lessons and options are available that can inform initiatives to improve the quality and quantity of resettlement/repatriation services for survivors of violence at the national and sub-national levels?

4. What are the implications for business? Why and how should the private sector intervene?

David Walker