Constitution of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea 1975, as amended to 2016
Religious Law
  • English
    (1) For the purposes of this Subdivision,8 a law that complies with the requirements of this section is a law that is made and certified in accordance with Subsection (2), and that-
    (a) regulates or restricts the exercise of a right or freedom referred to in this Subdivision to the extent that the regulation or restriction is necessary-
    i. taking account of the National Goals and Directive Principles and the Basic Social Obligations, for the purpose of giving effect to the public interest in-
    A. defence; or
    B. public safety; or
    C. public order; or
    D. public welfare; or
    E. public health (including animal and plant health); or
    F. the protection of children and persons under disability (whether legal or practical); or
    G. the development of under-privileged or less advanced groups or areas; or
    ii. in order to protect the exercise of the rights and freedoms of others; or
    (b) makes reasonable provision for cases where the exercise of one such right may conflict with the exercise of another, to the extent that the law is reasonably justifiable in a democratic society having a proper respect for the rights and dignity of mankind.
    (2) For the purposes of Subsection (1), a law must-
    (a) be expressed to be a law that is made for that purpose; and
    (b) specify the right or freedom that it regulates or restricts; and
    (c) be made, and certified by the Speaker in his certificate under Section 110 (certification as to making of laws) to have been made, by an absolute majority.
    (3) The burden of showing that a law is a law that complies with the requirements of Subsection (1) is on the party relying on its validity. (Sec. 38)
Religious Law
  • English
    WE THE PEOPLE OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA-

    - pledge ourselves to guard and pass on to those who come after us our noble traditions and the Christian principles that are ours now.
    … (Preamble)
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.