Constitution of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea 1975, as amended to 2016
Status of International Law
  • 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)
Status of International Law
  • English

    (7) Notwithstanding the consent of Papua New Guinea to be bound as a party to a treaty, no treaty forms part of the municipal law of Papua New Guinea unless, and then only to the extent that, it is given the status of municipal law by or under a Constitutional Law or an Act of the Parliament.
    … (Sec. 117)
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.