Constitution of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea 1975, as amended to 2016
Participation in Public Life and Institutions
  • English

    (2) EQUALITY AND PARTICIPATION.
    We declare our second goal to be for all citizens to have an equal opportunity to participate in, and benefit from, the development of our country.
    WE ACCORDINGLY CALL FOR-
    (1) an equal opportunity for every citizen to take part in the political, economic, social, religious and cultural life of the country; and

    (5) equal participation by women citizens in all political, economic, social and religious activities; and
    (6) the maximization of the number of citizens participating in every aspect of development; and

    (9) every citizen to be able to participate, either directly or through a representative, in the consideration of any matter affecting his interests or the interests of his community;
    … (Preamble, National Goals and Directive Principles)
Participation in Public Life and Institutions
  • English
    (1) Subject to the express limitations imposed by this Constitution, every citizen who is of full capacity and has reached voting age, other than a person who-
    (a) is under sentence of death or imprisonment for a period of more than nine months; or
    (b) has been convicted, within the period of three years next proceeding the first day of the polling period for the election concerned, of an offence relating to elections that is prescribed by an Organic Law or an Act of the Parliament for the purposes of this paragraph; or
    (ba) has dual citizenship of another country,
    has the right, and shall be given a reasonable opportunity-
    (c) to take part in the conduct of public affairs, either directly or through freely chosen representatives; and

    (e) to hold public office and to exercise public functions.
    … (Sec. 50)
Links to all sites last visited 1 March 2024
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.