Why PNG Have No Human Rights Commission?

International Human Rights Day

• Poverty: “Despite Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) current extractives-led economic boom, an estimated 40 per cent of the country lives in poverty.” (World Report 2015: Papua New Guinea-Events of 2014 Human Rights Watch)

• Corruption: “Pressing human rights issues include gender inequality, violence, corruption, and excessive use of force by police. Rates of family and sexual violence are among the highest in the world and perpetrators are rarely prosecuted.” (World Report 2015: Papua New Guinea-Events of 2014 Human Rights Watch)

• Torture and Other Police Abuse: “Physical and sexual abuse of detainees—including children—by police and paramilitary police units continues to be widespread. In March, a videotape surfaced of police officers surrounding and unleashing three dogs on a defenseless man. Police officials later condemned the abuse and said the incident was being investigated.” (World Report 2015: Papua New Guinea-Events of 2014 Human Rights Watch..

• Disability Rights: “People with disabilities in PNG are often unable to participate in community life, go to school, or work because of stigma and other barriers associated with disability. In many cases, people with disabilities are not able or allowed to leave their homes. Access to mental health care is limited, and traditional healers are the only option for many people with psycho social disabilities.” (World Report 2015: Papua New Guinea-Events of 2014 Human Rights Watch) ....“Children with disabilities in PNG face abuse, discrimination, exclusion, lack of accessibility, and a wide range of barriers to education.” (World Report 2015: Papua New Guinea-Events of 2014 Human Rights Watch)

• Environmental Concern: “Extractive industries are an important engine of PNG’s economic growth, but continue to give rise to serious human rights problems and environmental harm. Controversy raged around the alleged environmental impacts of the long-troubled Ok Tedi mine in 2014, and violent clashes erupted around the controversial Ramu Nickel project.” (World Report 2015: Papua New Guinea-Events of 2014 Human Rights Watch)

  Action points:

• Support awareness and advocacy events around Human Rights
• Stay informed and educate yourself on the various types of human rights and how they are related tot PNG laws
• Challenge your own bias
• Have discussions within your circle of influence
• Uphold Human Rights principals in your daily living and interaction with children and people, Universality, Indivisibility, participation, accountability, transparency, Non-discrimination.