Department of Justice and Attorney General

DJAG commemorate national women’s day

With the theme: “Count her in: Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress, DJAG staff joined the rest of Papua New Guinea to commemorate the day, which is observed annually on March 24th.

Marine Research Guideline launched

Since December 2021 the Marine Scientific Research Guidelines 2021 guideline was completed and ready to be authorized in the country.

Acting Deputy Secretary for Legal and Policy, Lillian Ipu, spoke about the overview of the Marine Scientific Research Guideline 2021, saying it was a milestone for the country to endorse the guidelines.

Justice Sector Focuses On Language Barrier

For this reason, addressing language is a key focus of the law and justice sector.

The Law and Justice Sector - Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion Community of Practice (GEDSI CoP) has launched nationwide consultations on a draft Disability Inclusion Communications Guide (the Guide) for government agencies and staff on how to communicate in an inclusive and non-discriminatory way with and about people with disabilities.

Village Courts Given Prominence

Attorney General, Dr Eric Kwa, made this known on Wednesday, 24th November.

“We want to include the rule of law, right in the village and at the community level,” he said.

He was speaking at the launch of three key documents on the Underlying Law by the Constitutional and Law reform Commission (CLRC).

“Over the last 45 years, so much focus has been given to the top and we are giving little attention to the 19,000 people who are the front liners of the law and justice sector, working throughout the country.”

New legal state fees released

As the country goes into the elections, the courts will be flooded with election petitions from disputed election returns after the return of writs.

Annually, it costs the state around K15 million to K16 million on matters involving state institutions, including the Electoral Commission.

Secretary of the Department of Justice & Attorney General Secretary, Dr Lawrence Kalinoe, said the new fee structure will ensure that the costs are manageable.

​First civil right report to be submitted

The Department of Justice and Attorney General has taken the lead to prepare the report, which is expected to be submitted to the United Nations Human Rights by the end of 2017.

The Government has committed to setting up a strict coordination mechanism called the ‘National Mechanism for Reporting and Follow up’ to help prepare reports on the six rectified human rights conventions.

PNG rectified the ICCPR in 2008 and is the process of establishing that structure through the leadership of the justice department.

Understanding of human trafficking important for PNG

A three-day workshop on Human Trafficking Victim identification & SOP Implementation Training conducted by the International Organization of Migration (IOM) and the Department of Justice and Attorney General   identified cases of human trafficking in PNG following recent increase of trafficking in the country.

Officer in Charge for Criminal Investigations Division (CID) Joe Puana said the workshop is an eye opener for police as what was covered by IOM trainers “were some things that we didn’t think was related to human trafficking or smuggling”.

New Judge sworn in

The Department of Justice and Attorney General today swore in a new judge of the National and Supreme courts.

He is Justice Kenneth Frank.

The event was held this morning at the Government House in the presence of other judges, Governor General, Michael Ogio and Chief Justice, Salamo Injia.

Frank graduated with a Law degree from the University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG) and was admitted to the bar in 1990.