PAPUA New Guinea has been urged to do away with the death penalty and other human rights violations it had told the United Nations to eradicate. PNG official Fred Sarufa recently appeared before the United Nations Human Rights Council remotely, for the country’s universal periodic review. According to Human Rights Watch, the UN review made it clear that the PNG Government had failed to follow through on some of its key past pledges to the council. The concern was over the country’s record on gender-based violence, retention of the death penalty and laws criminalising same sex relations. More than 15 nations questioned in particular PNG’s retention of the death penalty. Stephanie McLennan of Human Rights Watch said they were urging PNG to abolish the death penalty.
“With LGTB rights, we would definitely call for de-criminalisation of same-sex relations and also the introduction of anti-discrimination legislation to protect vulnerable people in the community,” she said. Concern was raised on PNG’s failure to reduce incidents of gender-based violence and the lack of female representation in politics. More than 1.5 million people experience gender-based violence in PNG each year, but prosecutions and convictions remain low. McLennan said one of the most critical recommendations was for PNG to prosecute perpetrators and hold them to account. Sarufa said implementing the recommendations made by the council was “highly important” to PNG. “A good proportion of these (issues) have been addressed by my government – albeit at varying levels – however there is also room for improvement,” Sarufa said. He welcomed recommendations by council members that the country be given technical cooperative assistance through partnerships, including with UN programmes. “We are optimistic that the lessons we have learned from this UPR process will help us do better in the future.” Source : Radio New Zealand Next : Internet Price In PNG Set To Drop Comments are closed.
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