By Edwin Fidelis – EM TV, Lae
The PNG government will initiate a body that will cater for human rights abuse, in the country.
The move taken by the government will create a human right commission to strengthen its exiting laws.
Over the years human rights concerns, brought before courts remain unaccounted for, due to the lack of a commission, to take up matters relating to the abuse of human rights.
After 40 years, the national government has pushed for the recognition of this independent commission.
The office will accommodate for concerns relating to human rights violation, assist people with investigations and mediate cases brought before the office.
Morobe province is listed, after Port Moresby, to have a human rights commission office established.
This morning, members of the commission met with the ward councillors of Lae District to discuss and do awareness on the new office.
The progress of the commission now hinges on an NEC decision that will be made in May that will give the go-ahead, to begin the work.
For over 40 years, Papua New Guinea’s human right laws have been shelved.
This is because there weren’t any institutions like the human right commission set in place to implement these laws.
So in short, Papua New Guineans who brought their concerns before the courts are disregarded.
One of the areas that the commission will be targeting are jails.
Through the human rights office, prisoners will be given an equal opportunity to raise their concerns, a treatment that many of them don’t have access to.
