Overview of Human Rights in Papua New Guinea

The Independent State of Papua New Guinea is a constitutional monarchy and a parliamentary democracy. Elections in recent years gave rise to claims of voter intimidation, violence, and influence peddling. Though irregularities occurred, international monitors believe the will of the people prevailed. This government works to respect the civil and human rights of the citizens of Papua New Guinea; however, problems still exist.

The judiciary is understaffed, which causes inefficiency and long delays in bringing people to trial. Violent attacks on judges and witnesses also slow the quest for justice. Police and security forces are known to use excessive force when arresting and detaining suspects. Some of these incidences result in fatal shootings of the ‘suspects.’ The police, acting as agents of the government, are also known to infringe on citizens' privacy rights. Illegal surveillance is a known action used by the government to monitor ‘persons of question.’ Prison conditions are harsh. Inter-tribal and gun-related violent crime led to the deaths of at least 30 people in recent years. Provincial power struggles, government corruption, and reprisal killings fuel violence in the region.

Note: Rising malaria and HIV/AIDS infection rates are also a concern. In the last year, 100+ new cases of HIV/AIDS were reported each month. This prompted calls for emergency intervention from humanitarian aid organizations.

Human Development Index (HDI) Rank:

139th out of 177

Note: Human Development Index (HDI) is a composite index that measures the level of well-being of nations in the world. It uses factors such as poverty, literacy, life-expectancy, education, gross domestic product, and purchasing power parity to assess the average achievements in each nation. It has been used in the United Nation’s Human Development Report since 1993.