Accused 'witches' dying in PNG

Papua New Guinea should declare an emergency in response to an increase in violence against women who are accused of sorcery, an aid worker has told a Senate inquiry.

Oxfam country director Esmie Sinapa says women are being accused of witchcraft when the real issue is often about land rights - and many have died because they couldn't get help soon enough.

"Papua New Guinea needs to declare an emergency on sorcery-related violence - it is widespread," she told the inquiry into Australia's PNG aid program in Canberra on Tuesday.