26 Apr 2010

Need for shelters, orphanage shown by brutal Vanuatu murders

7:50 pm on 26 April 2010

The Vanuatu National Council of Women is calling for the establishment of a shelter for young mothers and an orphanage for unwanted children following the murder of a woman and her three year-old daughter.

Police are releasing few details about the killings which occurred in Port Vila last week.

They say a piece of wood was found which they suspect was used in the murder, but they cannot confirm the cause of death and say they have no suspects.

The family circumstances of the 28 year-old woman are also not clear.

But the National Council of Women's president, Manina Packete is calling for more help for young mothers in her situation.

"Temporary accommodation for the mother and children when they face difficulties. We have to set up a place that could go through the screening for adoption or whatever."

Manina Packete says the current high birth rate makes these services necessary.

Eyewitnesses say the woman's body was found unclothed, but police have not confirmed if she was sexually assaulted.