Papua New Guinea is slowly working to establish a national human rights commission.
This issue has been on the Government's agenda since more than a decade, says Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), human rights adviser Kedar Poudyal.
OHCHR has been working with Government departments, including the Department of Justice and the Department of Community Development, which play a leading role in this regard.
Poudyal told Loop PNG that recently, in 2016 during the Universal Periodic Review of PNG by the Human Rights Council, PNG reiterated its commitment to establish the commission.
“The PNG Government has done some ground, including the drafting of a legislation.
“This issue also comes up as an agenda in the quarterly Human Rights Forum co-chaired by OHCHR and the Government where the second forum was held last month,” Poudyal said.
Poudyal highlighted that there is a need for a concerted effort by all stakeholders at the national level to make this happen.
The Commission should consist of investigators, Commissioners, Board of Inquiry, executive director, lawyers and administrative staff.
According to OHCHR, the Commission is an at-arms-length government agency that plays several important roles, including promoting the principle that every person is equal in dignity and rights.
The Commission distributes information, conducts educational programming and produces research in order to help people understand the Human Rights Act and eliminate discriminatory practices.
It enforces compliance with the rules in the Human Rights Act by investigating complaints of human rights violations and undertaking informal mediation and Board of Inquiry proceedings where necessary.
It also advises government, businesses, and private individuals on human rights issues and concerns.
(A UPNG student in hospital after he was injured in a confrontation with police during last year’s protest)