Constitution of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea 1975, as amended to 2016
Judicial Protection
  • English
    The provisions of this Constitution that recognize rights of individuals (including corporations and associations) as well as those that confer powers or impose duties on public authorities, shall not be left without effect because of the lack of supporting, machinery or procedural laws, but the lack shall, as far as practicable, be supplied by the National Court in the light of the National Goals and Directive Principles, and by way of analogy from other laws, general principles of justice and generally-accepted doctrine. (Sec. 22)
Judicial Protection
  • English
    ...
    (3) For the purposes of determining whether or not any law, matter or thing is reasonably justified in a democratic society that has a proper regard for the rights and dignity of mankind, a court may have regard to-
    (a) the provisions of this Constitution generally, and especially the National Goals and Directive Principles and the Basic Social Obligations; and
    (b) the Charter of the United Nations; and
    (c) the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and any other declaration, recommendation or decision of the General Assembly of the United Nations concerning human rights and fundamental freedoms; and
    (d) the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and the Protocols thereto, and any other international conventions, agreements or declarations concerning human rights and fundamental freedoms; and
    (e) judgements, reports and opinions of the International Court of Justice, the European Commission of Human Rights, the European Court of Human Rights and other international courts and tribunals dealing with human rights and fundamental freedoms; and
    (f) previous laws, practices and judicial decisions and opinions in the country; and
    (g) laws, practices and judicial decisions and opinions in other countries; and
    (h) the Final Report of the pre-Independence Constitutional Planning Committee dated 13 August 1974 and presented to the pre-Independence House of Assembly on 16 August 1974, as affected by decisions of that House on the report and by decisions of the Constituent Assembly on the draft of this Constitution; and
    (i) declarations by the International Commission of Jurists and other similar organizations; and
    (j) any other material that the court considers relevant. (Sec. 39)
Judicial Protection
  • English

    (1) A right or freedom referred to in this Division6 shall be protected by, and is enforceable in, the Supreme Court or the National Court or any other court prescribed for the purpose by an Act of the Parliament, either on its own initiative or on application by any person who has an interest in its protection and enforcement, or in the case of a person who is, in the opinion of the court, unable fully and freely to exercise his rights under this section by a person acting on his behalf, whether or not by his authority.
    (2) For the purposes of this section-
    (a) the Law Officers of Papua New Guinea; and
    (b) any other persons prescribed for the purpose by an Act of the Parliament; and
    (c) any other persons with an interest (whether personal or not) in the maintenance of the principles commonly known as the Rule of Law such that, in the opinion of the court concerned, they ought to be allowed to appear and be heard on the matter in question, have an interest in the protection and enforcement of the rights and freedoms referred to in this Division, but this subsection does not limit the persons or classes of persons who have such an interest.
    … (Sec. 57)

Judicial Protection
  • English
    (1) This section is in addition to, and not in derogation of, Section 57 (enforcement of guaranteed rights and freedoms).
    (2) A person whose rights or freedoms declared or protected by this Division are infringed (including any infringement caused by a derogation of the restrictions specified in Part X.5 (internment)) on the use of emergency powers in relation to internment is entitled to reasonable damages and, if the court thinks it proper, exemplary damages in respect of the infringement.
    (3) Subject to Subsections (4) and (5), damages may be a awarded against any person who committed, or was responsible for, the infringement.
    … (Sec. 58)
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2
Section 65 on Automatic Citizenship on Independence Day, Section 66 on Citizenship by Descent and Marriage, Section 67 on Citizenship by Naturalization.
3

Section 64 on Dual Citizenship.

4
Division 3 on Basic Rights.
5

Division 3 on Basic Rights.

6

Division 3 on Basic Rights.

7

Division 3 on Basic Rights.

8
Subdivision C on Qualified Rights.