Amnesty International Report 2015/16 - Papua New Guinea

Independent State of Papua New Guinea
Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II, represented by Governor General Michael Ogio
Head of government: Peter Charles Paire O'Neill

The government took little action to address violence against women or sorcery-related violence.

Reports of unnecessary or excessive use of force by police and military persisted. Hundreds of men remained in detention at the Australia-run immigration detention centre on Manus Island.

VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS

Sexual and gender-based violence remained pervasive. Legal reforms in recent years, including the repeal of the Sorcery Act and introduction of the 2013 Family Protection Act, were not followed up by effective action, such as improving social services, access to health care, counselling and women's shelters. The police force remained understaffed and under-resourced to deal with the high volume of family violence reports, preventing many women from accessing justice. Lack of government services in remote areas disproportionately affected women in rural locations from accessing health care and other services.

Reports continued of women and children being subjected to violence, sometimes resulting in death, following accusations of sorcery. In May a woman was hacked to death by a group of men after being accused of sorcery. A video showing four women being tortured as suspected sorcerers surfaced in October. Although it had not been verified independently by the end of the year, there remained concerns about the continued high level of incidents of sorcery-related violence.

A climate of intimidation and threats by police and non-state actors continued against human rights defenders who sought justice on issues such as sexual and gender-based violence.

EXCESSIVE USE OF FORCE

Many incidents of excessive use of force by police were reported throughout the year. In January police in the capital, Port Moresby, fired indiscriminately into a market after a dispute between vendors and local council officials, killing two vendors. No arrests had been made by the end of the year.

In November, two policemen in Papua New Guinea's East New Britain were charged with murder over the death of a man in a police cell.

Another officer was suspended pending an investigation into the sexual assault of a female inmate in a Kokopo police cell after she was arrested over the death of her husband.

In Enga province police and Papua New Guinea Defence Force soldiers reportedly pointed guns at two shop owners and allowed people to steal their goods.

In December the Papua New Guinea Police Commissioner said he will review the Royal PNG Constabulary rules of engagement to ensure that officers used firearms responsibly.

LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY

While some attempts were made to improve accountability in individual cases, many police abuses such as torture including rape, and unlawful detention, went unpunished. Marginalized groups, including sex workers and LGBTI people, were particularly vulnerable to abuses by the police while in custody.

DEATH PENALTY

The death penalty was retained in law; the last execution was carried out in 1954. In May, the Prime Minister announced that the government would review its 2013 decision to resume executions following a global outcry against the implementation of death sentences in Indonesia. Thirteen prisoners are reported to remain on death row. Officials in the Attorney General's Office confirmed in October that the government was considering a different approach and that an official announcement would be made at a later date.

REFUGEES AND ASYLUM-SEEKERS

As of 30 November, 926 adult men were detained at the Australia-run immigration detention centre on Manus Island. Despite some improvements to conditions at the centre, concerns remained about prolonged and arbitrary detention, as well as safety and security following an attack on the centre in February 2014. Plans regarding long-term resettlement were uncertain. A number of human rights restrictions applied to those who were moved to a more "open" facility in Lorengau. Concerns remained around refoulement.

A two-week hunger strike involving more than 700 detainees took place in January. Concerns were raised about how the security services dealt with this incident and its aftermath.[1]

In October, the Australian and Papua New Guinean governments announced that decisions regarding refugee status would finally be made for remaining detainees and that successful applicants would be resettled across Papua New Guinea by the end of 2015. While around 40 men had previously been released into alternative accommodation on Manus Island, their movements and right to work were severely restricted. Refugees were granted only a one-year temporary visa, as the necessary political and legislative processes to create a new visa class for refugees had not been completed.

The trial of those charged with the killing of Manus Island detainee Reza Berati in February 2014 began in March 2015. Three other suspects, including nationals of New Zealand and Australia, were also being sought.

[1] Australian and PNG authorities must respect asylum-seekers' right to protest (News story, 19 January)