Human Rights In Papua New Guinea
Encyclopedia
Papua New Guinea
(PNG) is a constitutional parliamentary democracy with an estimated population of 6,187,591. The current Prime Minister Peter O’Neill was voted into parliament on the 2nd August 2011 by 70 votes to 24 after enough deflections occurred to declare the position of prime minister vacant. O’Neill replaced acting Prime Minister Sam Abal who was standing in for former prime minister Sir Micheal Somare during his absence from parliament due to health problems. Abal’s lawyers have declared the appointment unconstitutional and the matter is currently before the Supreme Court of PNG.
Somare’s government was the first to complete a full 5 year term; however the most recent elections held in 2007 were marred by voter intimidation, influence peddling and violence. The next elections are scheduled for July 2012.
Police brutality, provincial power struggles and government corruption all contribute to the low awareness of basic human rights in the country.
), International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR
), the International Convention for the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD
), the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC
) and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW
). Despite this the most recent Amnesty International
submission prepared for the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of PNG in May 2011 found that reporting by the government of PNG on its obligations under the international human rights treaties to which it is party has been very poor.
PNG joined the United Nations
(UN) in 1975 and on the 11 May 2011 extended a standing invitation to all the thematic mechanisms of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights
to visit the country. In may 2010 the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture visited PNG and suggested that the country urgently Ratify the Convention Against Torture (CAT) and its Optional Protocol. As well as this the rapporteur also suggested that PNG ratify the first Optional Protocol to the ICCPR which provides for the right of victims to lodge individual complaints to the United Nations Human Rights Committee and also the second Optional Protocol aiming at the abolition of the death penalty. PNG has not yet ratified these instruments.
and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
1948. The constitution contains many civil and political rights that are able to be enforced by the judiciary. These include right to freedom (Section 32); right to life (Section 35); freedom from inhuman treatment (Section 36);freedom from conscience, thought and religion (Section 45); freedom of expression (Section 46) and right to vote and stand for public office (Section 50). Economic , social and cultural rights are not included in the constitution and are instead provided for in the National Goals and Directive Principles. These remain as guidelines and are non-justiciable.
Furthermore, the Constitution does not include “gender” or “sex” as a prohibited ground of discrimination, which is inconsistent with PNG’s obligations under the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, Article 2.
Polygyny; the custom of paying a ‘bride price’ to obtain a bride is a recurring problem, as is using women as compensation between tribes to settle disputes. The courts have ruled that such settlements have denied the women their constitutional rights. In July 2010 the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women urged the government to "put in place without delay a comprehensive strategy, including legislation, to modify or eliminate customary practices and stereotypes that discriminate against women in conformity with articles 2, 2 (f) and 5 (a) of the Convention." There are no employment or antidiscrimination laws.
Traditional beliefs in witchcraft or sorcery is given as the motivation for much of the violence committed against women. On January 6, 2009 a group of men stripped a woman naked, bound her hands and feet, forced a cloth in her mouth and then burnt her to death on a dumpsite. This stemmed from the rumour that the woman had eaten a mans heart. Women are 6 times more likely to be accused of sorcery than men. In 2009 a committee was established under the Constitutional Review and Law Reform Commission, to review the laws relating to sorcery and other measures to curb the number of sorcery-related murders. Little information is available on the progress of work of this Committee.
The right to freedom of speech and freedom of press as provided for in the Constitution are generally respected. There is no evidence of officially sanctioned government censorship, however newspaper owners have complained about intimidation tactics being used in an attempt to influence coverage.
The right to freedom of assembly is also present in the constitution however is often limited in practice. Public demonstrations require 14 days notice as well as police approval which is rarely granted.
On May 27, 2010 the government of PNG passed the Environment (Amendment) Bill 2010 which amends sections of the Environment and Conservation Act 2000 and gives the Secretary of the Department of Conservation the power to approve activities by mining and petroleum companies without the agreement of the traditional landowners. Any approval issued by the director will be final and “may not be challenged or reviewed in any court or tribunal, except at the instigation of an Authorization Instrument”.
These amendments are in contravention of the right of indigenous people to own land under s 53 of the constitution and Article’s 14, 15 and 16 of the CITP as well as traditional customary law which recognises indigenous customary title to land. They also violate article 15.2 of the CITP which asserts that where the state retains ownership of sub-surface resources they shall consult indigenous peoples before undertaking or permitting any programs for the exploitation of such resources in regards to their lands.
Although the right of indigenous peoples to own land is protected under the constitution, this only pertains to the first six feet below the surface of the land. As a result the government can lease mining rights to companies to mine below the lands surface. Mining corporation Barrick Gold has been has been leased mining rights to mine in Porgera in the Eastern Highlands. As a result there have been forced eviction of people from their homes and serious misconduct by police in this area. Amnesty International
found that there were no effective means for people of the public could complain against the police acting in violation of international law and standards.
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
(PNG) is a constitutional parliamentary democracy with an estimated population of 6,187,591. The current Prime Minister Peter O’Neill was voted into parliament on the 2nd August 2011 by 70 votes to 24 after enough deflections occurred to declare the position of prime minister vacant. O’Neill replaced acting Prime Minister Sam Abal who was standing in for former prime minister Sir Micheal Somare during his absence from parliament due to health problems. Abal’s lawyers have declared the appointment unconstitutional and the matter is currently before the Supreme Court of PNG.
Somare’s government was the first to complete a full 5 year term; however the most recent elections held in 2007 were marred by voter intimidation, influence peddling and violence. The next elections are scheduled for July 2012.
Police brutality, provincial power struggles and government corruption all contribute to the low awareness of basic human rights in the country.
Ratification of International Human Rights Instruments
PNG has ratified 5 of the core human rights treaties; the third highest number in the Pacific behind New Zealand and Australia. These include the The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPRInternational Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights is a multilateral treaty adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 16, 1966, and in force from March 23, 1976...
), International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights is a multilateral treaty adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 16, 1966, and in force from January 3, 1976...
), the International Convention for the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination is a United Nations convention. A second-generation human rights instrument, the Convention commits its members to the elimination of racial discrimination and the promotion of understanding among all races...
), the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC
Convention on the Rights of the Child
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is a human rights treaty setting out the civil, political, economic, social, health and cultural rights of children...
) and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women
The Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women is an international convention adopted in 1979 by the United Nations General Assembly....
). Despite this the most recent Amnesty International
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
submission prepared for the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of PNG in May 2011 found that reporting by the government of PNG on its obligations under the international human rights treaties to which it is party has been very poor.
PNG joined the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
(UN) in 1975 and on the 11 May 2011 extended a standing invitation to all the thematic mechanisms of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights
United Nations Commission on Human Rights
The United Nations Commission on Human Rights was a functional commission within the overall framework of the United Nations from 1946 until it was replaced by the United Nations Human Rights Council in 2006...
to visit the country. In may 2010 the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture visited PNG and suggested that the country urgently Ratify the Convention Against Torture (CAT) and its Optional Protocol. As well as this the rapporteur also suggested that PNG ratify the first Optional Protocol to the ICCPR which provides for the right of victims to lodge individual complaints to the United Nations Human Rights Committee and also the second Optional Protocol aiming at the abolition of the death penalty. PNG has not yet ratified these instruments.
National Human Rights Commission
In 1997 the government approved in principle the establishment of a human rights commission for PNG with the minimum standards set by the Paris Principles. This commitment was reaffirmed in 2007 with the presentation of the 2007 Final Option Paper on the establishment of the PNG human rights commission; and in 2008 a draft organic law on the on the establishment of a human rights commission was prepared. This draft Bill has yet to go through the parliamentary process; however once endorsed it is anticipated that the Human Rights Commission will be operational by 2012.Constitutional Human Rights Protections
The Constitution of Papua New Guinea entered into force on the 16 September 1975. It is one of the few unique constitutions around the world that contains almost all the rights and freedoms enshrined the United Nations CharterUnited Nations Charter
The Charter of the United Nations is the foundational treaty of the international organization called the United Nations. It was signed at the San Francisco War Memorial and Performing Arts Center in San Francisco, United States, on 26 June 1945, by 50 of the 51 original member countries...
and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a declaration adopted by the United Nations General Assembly . The Declaration arose directly from the experience of the Second World War and represents the first global expression of rights to which all human beings are inherently entitled...
1948. The constitution contains many civil and political rights that are able to be enforced by the judiciary. These include right to freedom (Section 32); right to life (Section 35); freedom from inhuman treatment (Section 36);freedom from conscience, thought and religion (Section 45); freedom of expression (Section 46) and right to vote and stand for public office (Section 50). Economic , social and cultural rights are not included in the constitution and are instead provided for in the National Goals and Directive Principles. These remain as guidelines and are non-justiciable.
Furthermore, the Constitution does not include “gender” or “sex” as a prohibited ground of discrimination, which is inconsistent with PNG’s obligations under the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, Article 2.
Women’s Rights
Discrimination and violence against women, including gang rape and domestic violence, is a serious issue in PNG. Two thirds of women have experienced domestic violence and fifty percent of women have experienced forced sex. Rape is a crime punishable by imprisonment however a prevalent culture of silence has resulted in few rapists being apprehended. Police officials have been directly implicated in the widespread sexual violence against women.Polygyny; the custom of paying a ‘bride price’ to obtain a bride is a recurring problem, as is using women as compensation between tribes to settle disputes. The courts have ruled that such settlements have denied the women their constitutional rights. In July 2010 the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women urged the government to "put in place without delay a comprehensive strategy, including legislation, to modify or eliminate customary practices and stereotypes that discriminate against women in conformity with articles 2, 2 (f) and 5 (a) of the Convention." There are no employment or antidiscrimination laws.
Traditional beliefs in witchcraft or sorcery is given as the motivation for much of the violence committed against women. On January 6, 2009 a group of men stripped a woman naked, bound her hands and feet, forced a cloth in her mouth and then burnt her to death on a dumpsite. This stemmed from the rumour that the woman had eaten a mans heart. Women are 6 times more likely to be accused of sorcery than men. In 2009 a committee was established under the Constitutional Review and Law Reform Commission, to review the laws relating to sorcery and other measures to curb the number of sorcery-related murders. Little information is available on the progress of work of this Committee.
Civil and Political Rights
The Constitution provides for the right of citizens to change their government peacefully which is exercised in practice through periodic elections. All citizens possess the right to vote and political parties are able to operate free from restriction and outside influence. However in the most recent elections violence was common in the Highlands which compromised the possibility of free and fair voting.The right to freedom of speech and freedom of press as provided for in the Constitution are generally respected. There is no evidence of officially sanctioned government censorship, however newspaper owners have complained about intimidation tactics being used in an attempt to influence coverage.
The right to freedom of assembly is also present in the constitution however is often limited in practice. Public demonstrations require 14 days notice as well as police approval which is rarely granted.
Rights of Indigenous Peoples
With over 800 indigenous tribes and languages PNG is one of the most heterogeneous countries in the world. Recognition of indigenous rights in the country is poor and the divide in language, customs and tradition, has resulted in regular inter-tribal feuds. In 2000 PNG ratified the ILO Convention on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples in Independent Countries 1989 http://www.ilo.org/ilolex/cgi-lex/convde.pl?C169|CITP(CITP); however the government has not ratified the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.On May 27, 2010 the government of PNG passed the Environment (Amendment) Bill 2010 which amends sections of the Environment and Conservation Act 2000 and gives the Secretary of the Department of Conservation the power to approve activities by mining and petroleum companies without the agreement of the traditional landowners. Any approval issued by the director will be final and “may not be challenged or reviewed in any court or tribunal, except at the instigation of an Authorization Instrument”.
These amendments are in contravention of the right of indigenous people to own land under s 53 of the constitution and Article’s 14, 15 and 16 of the CITP as well as traditional customary law which recognises indigenous customary title to land. They also violate article 15.2 of the CITP which asserts that where the state retains ownership of sub-surface resources they shall consult indigenous peoples before undertaking or permitting any programs for the exploitation of such resources in regards to their lands.
Although the right of indigenous peoples to own land is protected under the constitution, this only pertains to the first six feet below the surface of the land. As a result the government can lease mining rights to companies to mine below the lands surface. Mining corporation Barrick Gold has been has been leased mining rights to mine in Porgera in the Eastern Highlands. As a result there have been forced eviction of people from their homes and serious misconduct by police in this area. Amnesty International
Amnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
found that there were no effective means for people of the public could complain against the police acting in violation of international law and standards.