PNG NGBVS

Laws & Policies

Family Protection Act 2013: The law criminalizes domestic violence and seeks to prevent and deter violence by ensuring that there is adequate legal protection for victims of domestic violence. It must be understood that the inclusion of the offense is primarily to allow the victim to have immediate protection from the perpetrator, who is a family member, and be issued an Interim Protection Order.

Lukautim Pikinini Act 2015: This law is based on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. It extends protection to all children, including those sexually and physically exploited, children affected by conflicts, children with disabilities, and those infected/affected by HIV/AIDS. It guarantees protection of rights and respect for dignity of all children; in particular child in need of protection and children with special needs.

Criminal Code Act 1974: Several provisions of the criminal code relate specifically to GBV, including child sexual assault, definitions of rape and the criminalization of marital rape. The Criminal Code (Sexual Offences and Crimes against Children) Act of 2002 introduced a series of new offences to the Criminal Code extending the scope of sexual offences. The offences are graded according to the seriousness of the harm and incorporate the ways in which women are sexually violated. Tougher sentences were introduced, the marital immunity that had previously protected husbands from a charge of rape was removed, and the requirement for corroboration was removed.

Village Courts Act: The Act addresses offences relating to fights or violence directed at a person and the property of a person. The Act enables Village Courts to issue IPOs, which make them an important agent in the dispensing of justice addressing family sexual violence at the community-level.