District Court, Mendi & Ialibu
PNG's judicial system consists of Village Courts, District Courts and the National Court which is the superior trial court. Magisterial Services (established by section 173(1) of Constitution of Papua New Guinea) administers the District Court system within PNG, and there are 57 District Court establishments across the nation staffed by 88 magistrates and more than 500 court support staff.
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The District Court's key functional jurisdictions include:
The District Court uses formal and informal approaches for settling grievances, particularly in the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution. Magistrates can also make orders for a community work order to be undertaken by a defendant who has been found guilty. Where mitigating factors outweigh the aggravating factors, the defendant may be placed on probation with conditions for community work and/or payment of compensation. |
Contact: Mendi District Court PO Box 102, Mendi. Ph: 549 1141/1105, Fax: 549 1151 Ialibu Court House PO Box 254, Ialibu. Ph: 540 1644, Fax: 540 1644 |
Village Courts, Southern Highlands Province
Village Courts are an essential part of PNG's formal court system. They are established under the Village Courts Act 1989 and the Village Court Regulations 1973. There are more than 1,500 Village Courts across the country, supported by over 15,000 officials, including 900 women. Each Village Court has 4-5 Village Magistrates (appointed by the Minister for Justice as judicial officers), 3-4 Peace Officers, and 1 Clerk. Over 90% of people living in PNG have access to a Village Court, which have the jurisdiction to settle local disputes and deal with minor crimes using customary conflict-resolution approaches wherever possible.
Village Courts are the largest provider of restorative justice services in PNG, and are authorised to do the following:
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Contact: Mr Isaac Meya Provincial Village Courts Officer Office of the Provincial Administrator P.O. Box 249, Southern Highlands Ph: 5491332 Facsimile: 549 1165
Southern Highlands Province has 152 Village Courts |
Probation, Parole & Juvenile Justice Services, Mendi
CBC is an agency within the Department of Justice & Attorney General. CBC has offices in every province across PNG and it plays a central role in developing and implementing restorative justice programs throughout the country. It provides members of the community with access to community justice services which include the provision of non-custodial rehabilitation programs for both adult and juvenile offenders. This assists offenders to re-enter society as responsible, productive citizens.
CBC is responsible for:
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Contact: Senior Probation Officer Probation, Parole & Juvenile Justice Services Dept. Of Justice & Attorney General Southern Highlands PO Box 362, Mendi Ph: 549 2632 | Fax: 542 0155 |
Provincial Administration & Dept. for Community Development, SHP
The Provincial Administrations across PNG have Community Development Branches, which provide services on behalf of the Department of Community Development. The Welfare Officers and Child Protection Officers employed by the Provincial Administration administer the provisions of a number of acts, including the Laukautim Pikinini Act, Deserted wife & Children Act, Marriage Act, National Youth Service Act, and National Council of Women Incorporation Act.
Provincial welfare, gender & child protection officers provide the following services to the public:
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Contact: Community & Family Affairs Division Southern Highlands Provincial Administration PO Box 249, Mendi, SHP Ph: 549 1672
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Correctional Services, Southern Highlands Province
Established under the Correctional Services Act, Papua New Guinea Correctional Services is the government agency responsible for the custody, confinement and rehabilitation of offenders and prisoners. It is also responsible for the effective administration of the agency. CS is responsible for operating correctional institutions across all provinces in PNG.
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CS provides the following rehabilitation programs in its correctional institutions:
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Contact: Correctional Services Head Office P.O. Box 6889, Boroko, NCD Ph: 323 1855/323 1978 | Fax: 323 0407 Buiebi CIS | Ph: 275 5772 | Fax: 275 5438 |
Catholic Church, Southern Highlands Province
The Catholic Church of Papua New Guinea is made up of 4 Archdioceses and 15 Dioceses in Vanimo, Altape, Wewak, Lae, Madang, Mt Hagen, Wabag, Mendi, Goroka, Kundiawa, Kavieng, Kimbe, Rabaul, Kerema, Daru, Aloutau, Berina, and Port Moresby. The church runs numerous programs across PNG (regional contact details can be obtained by ringing the Port Moresby numbers below)
The church programs include:
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Contact: Mendi Diocese Franciscan Sisters Ph: 549 1595 HIV Office - FMI Sisters Ph: 549 2385 |
Office of the Public Prosecutor, Mendi
The core function of the Office of the Public Prosecutor (OPP) is the prosecution of matters in the National Courts and criminal appeals in the Supreme Court across PNG. The Public Prosecutor is empowered under the Constitution to control the exercise and performance of the prosecution function of the State. As part of the conduct of prosecutions the OPP has contact with victims of crime.
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As part of its prosecution function the OPP provides an information and referral service to victims of crime whose matters are before the National and Supreme Courts. This involves:
The OPP also makes submissions on behalf of the State as to the appropriate penalties that ought to be imposed by the superior courts following a conviction. |
Contact: Ms. Sheila Luben Office of the Public Prosecutor - Mendi Southern Highlands Province Ph – 709 05406 |
Caritas Papua New Guinea – Mendi Catholic Diocese
Caritas PNG is an agency of the Catholic Bishops Conference (CBC) of PNG & Solomon Islands. They promote Integral Human Development of the grassroots citizens of PNG.The mission of Caritas PNG is to take active role in social justice, peace, ecology, and human development issues as part of the pastoral mission of the Church, promote Catholic Social Teaching, address injustice, inequalities, poverty and dependency which undermine human dignity, and be a voice for the poor and marginalized to build a better PNG.
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It has operates through main goals: Integral Human Development (IHD), Disaster & Relief Management, Helping the Poor and Marginalized, Research & Advocacy, Child Protection, Gender Equality, Ecological Stewardship & Care of God’s Creation, Democratic Governance.
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Contact: Mr.Ian Aipet – Diocesan Caritas Coordinator Mendi Catholic Diocese P O Box 69, Mendi, SHP Ph: 549 1102 | Fax: 549 1169 | Mob: 7391 0902 Email:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. |
National Youth Development Authority – Mendi, Southern Highlands Province
The National Youth Development Authority is a government agency established to provide policy directives for the youth of PNG. It provides a framework for planning and program development for all agencies and organisations involved in youth development work. Inclusive in its policy area for stakeholders to develop and implement programs is Law Order and Justice with the objectives to promote, maintain safety, security and peace in communities.
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Contact: James Tesim - Provincial Youth Officer The Provincial Administrator Southern Highlands Provincial Administration P.O.Box 249,MENDI,SHP | Mob: 7132 9856 |