Authorities continued to restrict media freedom and the right to peaceful assembly. Gender-based violence continued unabated. Law enforcement responses to inter-ethnic and gang-related violence were ineffective. New legislation promised greater environmental protection, but climate commitments were undermined by environmentally destructive mining projects, corruption and illegal logging.
Background
In May, a landslide caused the deaths of over 160 people in the highland province of Enga, impacting the right to life and livelihoods in an area already plagued by violence. Five years after the population of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville voted for independence, the Papua New Guinea parliament had yet to enact laws to implement the outcome of the referendum.
Freedom of expression and peaceful assembly
In January, protests by police over a salary dispute in the capital Port Moresby and coastal city of Lae escalated into riots and looting leading to the deaths of 25 people.1 There were reports that police officers were responsible for inciting some of the unrest. The authorities failed to investigate the deaths.
The authorities persisted with plans to further restrict media freedom through a National Media Policy to regulate journalists, media outlets and the currently independent PNG Media Council. The draft policy, first introduced in 2023 and revised in July, was adopted in November.
Journalists and other media workers continued to face harassment and intimidation. In August, the authorities prevented a reporter from the online news service BenarNews from attending a press conference with Indonesia’s president-elect Prabowo Subianto apparently because of the outlet’s reporting on the human rights situation in Papua, Indonesia (see Indonesia entry).
Defamation laws criminalized freedom of expression. In August, the Supreme Court ruled that the Cybercrime Act 2016, which carries a 25-year prison sentence or a heavy fine, did not undermine constitutional rights to freedom of expression. The case was brought by journalist Kila Aoneka Wari, who was charged with defamation under the Act in 2022.
The authorities also restricted peaceful protests. In July, police arrested six men for burning the national flag during a protest against the eviction of informal settlers from the Bush Wara area of Port Moresby. All six were charged under the National Identity Act for “improper use of the national flag” and unlawful assembly under the Criminal Code Act.
Right to life
Inter-ethnic and gang violence persisted across several highland provinces, despite new curfews, restrictions on freedom of movement, and authorizations of the use of lethal force against anyone carrying a weapon introduced in 2024. Prosecutions for crimes committed in the context of inter-ethnic violence were rare.
Over 80 inter-ethnic violence-related killings were reported in Enga province during the year, including around the Porgera mining site. In July, gang violence in East Sepik province resulted in 26 deaths, including 16 children.
Gender-based violence
According to an academic study published in July, attacks against women and girls accused of sorcery were more severe than attacks against men. Female survivors were also less likely to be able to access justice through the courts.
Right to a healthy environment
In February, parliament passed the Protected Areas Act, under which 30% of the country will be earmarked for conservation. There were concerns among conservationists about the enforceability of the law.
The country remained reliant on fossil fuel extraction and other environmentally destructive mining projects for economic revenue and development. Government commitments to tackling climate change were also undermined by illegal logging.
