UPR Sexual Rights Database

National Report:
Para 44) The Village Courts and Land Mediation Secretariat, has incorporated human rights issues into its training manual and programs for village court officials and land mediators. Through this program village court officials and land mediators are trained in cross cutting issues such as ... HIV and AIDS.

Para 92) The Government has made significant progress towards combating HIV/AIDS in the country. The Government has scaled up efforts in almost all parts of the country to address one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. The Government has joined efforts with the donors and civil society organizations to reduce the HIV prevalence rate to 0.65percent. Provision of Antiretroviral (ARV) commenced in 2004 and has expanded to 90 facilities around the country, 29 of which offer paediatric ARV treatment. These achievements are made due to the intense HIV/AIDS testing and counselling (HTC) run by church health services. Significant advances have been made in increasing HTC sites from four in 2004 to 356 in 2012. In the last ten years there has been widespread mobilisation of services and improved service delivery to contain the rapid spread of HIV/AIDS.

Para 93) The Government acknowledges that young women are highly vulnerable to HIV infection. Therefore, the Government has made more efforts to ensure both men and women, including young children at the age of 15years, are receiving the required treatment. As of July 2015, 86percent of adults and children living with HIV were receiving treatment.

UN Compilation:
Para 22) According to country team, in response to recommendations received during its first universal periodic review, Papua New Guinea launched its Gender Equity and Social Inclusion Policy, which established a framework for promotion of gender equity and social inclusion practices across the national public service. The policy also addressed areas including HIV/AIDS ...

Para 52) The country team indicated that the National HIV and AIDS Strategy (2011-2015) had been extended to 2017. From data from 2013, it was estimated that antiretroviral medicines to treat HIV had been delivered to 80 per cent of those in need and to 55.26 per cent of pregnant women in need of antiretroviral drugs. However, the quality, reliability and extent of strategic information on the epidemic was poor and had resulted in a national response based on incorrect assumptions. Although the country fully funded treatment domestically and had approved the new treatment guidelines of the World Health Organization, many locations lacked treatment facilities.

National Report:
Para 38) The Government has developed policies, plans and strategies to address and eliminate all forms of discrimination and abuse against women as per Article 2 of CEDAW. All the policies below are comprehensive and address several human rights issues in consistent with the National Constitution of Papua New Guinea. These include:
- Papua New Guinea Vision 2050, which is a long-term national development roadmap;
- Millennium Development Goals (MDG) 2000-2015;
- National Strategy for Responsible Sustainable Development (STARS), which addresses the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2015-2030;
- Medium Term Development Plan 2 (MTDP) 2016-2017, usually a 5-year development rolling plan;
- National Public Service Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Policy (GESI Policy);
- National Security Strategy 2013;
- Development Strategic Plan (PNGSDP) 2010-2030.

Para 118) The National Policy for Women and Gender Equity provides for women empowerment for equal participation and beneficial in all areas of economic, social, political and spiritual development.

GESI Policy (2013-2015)
Para 119) The Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) Policy provides a progressive mechanism for the empowerment of women and girls within the Public Service. The GESI is specifically aimed at promoting, building skills and capacity of women to be leaders in the Public Service and the wider community. It also provides for the protection of women from gender-based violence and exploitation in professional settings.

UN Compilation:
Para 22) According to country team, in response to recommendations received during its first universal periodic review, Papua New Guinea launched its Gender Equity and Social Inclusion Policy, which established a framework for promotion of gender equity and social inclusion practices across the national public service.

National Report:
Para 36) A further amendment to the Criminal Code (Amendment) Act 2014 criminalised sorcery-related violence and killings and provides protection for women who have been accused of sorcery-related activities.

Para 132) Following a nationwide consultation on the issue of sorcery, the Sorcery Act 1971which provided for sorcery allegations as an offence, was repealed in 2012. Given the nature of serious crimes being perpetrated against alleged sorcerers, a new offence of wilful murder has been inserted into the Papua New Guinea Criminal Code on account of accusation of sorcery and carries the maximum penalty.

UN Compilation:
Para 7) The Special Rapporteur on summary executions and the country team noted as positive step that, in 2013, Parliament had repealed the Sorcery Act (1971)

Stakeholder Summary:
Para 5) PI, HRW and CS welcomed the fact that, in May 2103, Parliament repealed the Sorcery Act.

Para 22) HRW and JS3 recalled that, during its 1st UPR, PNG accepted several recommendations related to sorcery related crimes. JS3, however, noted that, despite the repeal of the Sorcery Act, people, particularly women, continue to be accused of sorcery, and many are subjected to violence including torture and killing. The real extent of sorcery-related violence was difficult to estimate because many cases go unreported.

National Report:
Para 14) Papua New Guinea's commitment to ratifying the International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) was fulfilled on 26 September2013.

Stakeholder Summary:
Para 52) ... Since its previous UPR, PNG ratified the CRPD and established a National Disability Policy 2015-2025 in line with the Convention ...