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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)
National Human Rights Bodies
- English(1) Subject to this section and to any Organic Law made for the purposes of Subsection (7), the functions of the Ombudsman Commission are-
(a) to investigate, on its own initiative or on complaint by a person affected, any conduct on the part of-
i. any State Service or provincial service, or a member of any such service; or
ii. any other governmental body, or an officer or employee of a governmental body; or
iii. any local government body or an officer or employee of any such body; or
iv. any other body set up by statute-
A. that is wholly or mainly supported out of public moneys of Papua New Guinea; or
B. all of, or the majority of, the members of the controlling authority of which are appointed by the National Executive, or an officer of employee of any such body; and
v. any member of the personal staff of the Governor-General, a Minister or the Leader or Deputy Leader of the Opposition; or
vi. any other body or person prescribed for the purpose by an Act of the Parliament, specified by or under an Organic Law in the exercise of a power or function vested in it or him by law in cases where the conduct is or may be wrong, taking into account, amongst other things, the National Goals and Directive Principles, the Basic Rights and the Basic Social Obligations;
… (Sec. 219)
National Human Rights Bodies
- EnglishThe purposes of the establishment of the Ombudsman Commission are-
(a) to ensure that all governmental bodies are responsive to the needs and aspirations of the People; and
(b) to help in the improvement of the work of governmental bodies and the elimination of unfairness and discrimination by them; and
(c) to help in the elimination of unfair or otherwise defective legislation and practices affecting or administered by governmental bodies; and
(d) to supervise the enforcement of Division III.2 (leadership code). (Sec. 218)
National Human Rights Bodies
- English(1) There shall be an Ombudsman Commission, consisting of a Chief Ombudsman and two Ombudsmen.
(2) The members of the Commission shall be appointed by the Head of State, acting with, and in accordance with, the advice of an Ombudsman Appointments Committee consisting of-
(a) the Prime Minister, who shall be Chairman; and
(b) the Chief Justice; and
(c) the Leader of the Opposition; and
(d) the Chairman of the appropriate Permanent Parliamentary Committee, or, if the Chairman is not a member of the Parliament who is recognized by the Parliament as being generally committed to support the Government in the Parliament, the Deputy Chairman of that Committee; and
(e) the Chairman of the Public Services Commission.
… (Sec. 217)
Political Rights and Association
- 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-
…
(d) to vote for, and to be elected to, elective public office at genuine, periodic, free elections; and
… (Sec. 50)
Political Rights and Association
- EnglishEvery person has the right peacefully to assemble and associate and to form or belong to, or not to belong to, political parties, industrial organizations or other associations, except to the extent that the exercise of that right is regulated or restricted by a law-
(a) that makes reasonable provision in respect of the registration of all or any associations; or
(b) that imposes restrictions on non-citizens; or
(c) that complies with Section 38 (general qualifications on qualified rights). (Sec. 47)
Political Rights and Association
- EnglishWE HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGE that, subject to any restrictions imposed by law on noncitizens, all persons in our country are entitled to the fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual, that is to say, the right, whatever their race, tribe, places of origin, political opinion, colour, creed or sex, but subject to respect for the rights and freedoms of others and for the legitimate public interest, to each of the following:-
…
(b) the right to take part in political activities; and
…
(d) freedom of conscience, of expression, of information and of assembly and association;
… (Preamble, Basic Rights)
Political Rights and Association
- 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
(2) the creation of political structures that will enable effective, meaningful participation by our people in that life, and in view of the rich cultural and ethnic diversity of our people for those structures to provide for substantial decentralization of all forms of government activity; and
…
(5) equal participation by women citizens in all political, economic, social and religious activities;
… (Preamble, National Goals and Directive Principles)
Political Rights and Association
- English…
(3) The members of the Parliament (other than the nominated members) shall be elected under a system of universal, adult, citizen suffrage in accordance with Section 50 (right to vote and stand for public office) and the other Constitutional Laws, and the voting age is 18 years.
… (Sec. 126)
Political Rights and Association
- English(1) Only citizens other than citizens who have dual citizenship may-
(a) vote in elections for, or hold, elective public offices;
… (Sec. 56)