PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea – Papua New Guinea is prepared to establish a human rights commission.  The final option paper was presented this week, and has the support of Chief Ombudsman Ila Geno and Secretary for Community Development Joseph Klapat.

Klapat said, “The human rights commission formation is an important proposal for the government because it underpins not only the protection of human rights but the promotion of democracy, realising Papua New Guineans’ international human rights obligation together with education and infrastructure developments in PNG.”

Also this week, the PNG group Kup Women for Peace took the Pacific Human Rights award for its “outstanding peace work during conflict”, reports the Post-Courier.

For more information, please see:

Islands Business (The National) – PNG set to establish Human Rights Commission – 14 December 2007

Post-Courier – UN urges respect for rights – 12 December 2007

Pacific Magazine – PNG Group Wins Regional Human Rights Award – 11 December 2007