Overview of the Branch
The Human Rights Secretariat Branch was formally established under the Department of Justice and Attorney General's (DJAG) corporate structure in 2023, demonstrating the Government's strong commitment to advancing human rights in Papua New Guinea. The Secretariat's core mandate is to coordinate and lead efforts toward the establishment of a National Human Rights Institution.
The Branch has an approved staffing ceiling of nine positions, six of which are currently filled. Its office is located within the Department of Justice and Attorney General, on Level 5 of West New Britain House, Waigani.
In August 2025, the Secretariat achieved a significant milestone with the launch of the Strategic Plan on Human Rights 2024–2029—a roadmap that guides national efforts toward establishing a National Human Rights Commission in Papua New Guinea.
Our Journey Towards a National Human Rights Institution
Papua New Guinea has taken an important step towards strengthening human rights. The Strategic Plan on Human Rights 2024–2029, approved by the National Executive Council in July 2025, sets out the country's first roadmap for protecting and promoting human rights. The Human Rights Secretariat, together with government agencies, civil society, and partners like the European Union, is now leading work to establish a National Human Rights Policy Framework, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and lead the promotion of awareness and educational programs.
When the Human Rights Secretariat was set up, its first task was to bring back the Technical Working Committee and review past efforts to promote human rights in Papua New Guinea. This review showed that PNG had never had a formal human rights policy. Instead, earlier work had mainly focused on drafting laws to set up a Human Rights Institution. It also highlighted that the National Executive Council (NEC) had, on several occasions, called for the creation of a National Human Rights Institution (NHRI).
To address this gap, the Secretariat, in close consultations with the Technical Working Committee agencies developed the Strategic Plan on Human Rights 2024–2029, which sets out clear goals and actions for improving human rights in the country. The NEC approved this plan on 24 July 2025 (Decision No. 136/2025).