UPR Sexual Rights Database

National Report:
Para 55) The Government, through the Office of the Civil Registry, has the mandate to register all births of children in the country. Awareness programs on the role of the Office of the Civil Registry and the requirement to register all births has been conducted nationwide.

Para 56) In 2014, the Government initiated the National Identification Project which addresses the issue of registration for all Papua New Guinea citizens. Under this initiative, all Papua New Guinea citizens are required to be registered.

Para 57) There is no accurate registration statistics for the number of births throughout the country, particularly in the rural areas of Papua New Guinea.

UN Compilation:
Para 24) The country team noted the Civil Registration (Amendment) Act and the National Identity Project launched in 2015, which aimed to register all citizens and provide them with a birth certificate. The country team recommended establishing civil and identity registration capacity beyond the provincial capital to further improve access to civil registration services.

National Report:
Para 32) Recent amendments to the Marriage Act 1963 and Matrimonial Causes Act 1963 addresses gaps in existing laws on discrimination against women in relation to custody and rights to matrimonial property and other related matters.

Para 33) The LukautimPikinini Act 2015 provides a comprehensive framework on the protection of the female child and introduces provisions for women with children and pregnant women in custody.

Para 37) The Civil Registry Act 2014 expands the identification services for Papua New Guineans and provides for the registration of one wife to have access to property and matrimonial rights. However, this has raised the issue of the rights of the second wife and that of her children. This issue is being addressed by the Government

Para 45) The Village Courts Act 2014 (as amended) in Section 3 explicitly stipulates an objective for Village Courts to "improve access for women to Village Courts and to eliminate discrimination against women in Village Court proceedings; provide access to justice for all Papua New Guineans regardless of where they live; and to promote practices and procedures that are consistent with the basic rights guaranteed by Division 111.3 (Basic Rights) of the Constitution".

Para 121) The National Council of Women Act 2013provides for equal participation in political and public affairs.

Para 122) The Incorporated Land Group (Amendment) Act 2009 provides for the inclusion of women in decision-making on customary landownership and the management of the land.

Para 123) The Constitutional Amendment No. 32, Equality and Participation Law 2011 promotes equality in political participation, giving effect to the second goal of the National Goals and Directive Principles of Equality and Participation adding "a number of women elected from a single member women's electorate as defined under an Organic Law".

Para 124) The Informal Sector Development and Control Act 2004 and the National Informal Economy Policy (2011-2015) provides for the framework to support the informal economic activity which makes up about 85% of the PNG rural workforce, the majority of whom are women.

Para 126) The Government has taken steps to review laws to protect women against discrimination and gender-based violence and to promote gender equality in the country. The Government is in the process of completing a Report with recommendations to harmonise CEDAW with domestic legislations.

Measures to ensure greater representation in Parliament for women
Para 135) The Government has enacted the Constitutional Amendment No. 32. Equality and Participation Law (2011) which promotes equality in political participation. This law gives effect to the second goal of the National Goals and Directive Principles (NGDPs) of Equality and Participation adding "a number of women elected from a single member women's electorate as defined under an Organic Law."

Para 136) The Government also enacted the National Council of Women Act 2013 which provides for equal participation in political and public affairs. The Constitution also provides for the principle of equality between men and women in all areas.

UN Compilation:
Para 21) In 2013, the Special Rapporteur on violence against women noted that the country had undertaken legal and institutional initiatives to address the situation of women and girls in the country. However, those had not been translated into concrete improvements in the lives of the majority of women, who remain marginalized, discriminated against and at high risk of being subjected to violence.