Papua New Guinea

Cluster Munition Ban Policy

Last updated: 08 July 2019

Summary: Non-signatory Papua New Guinea adopted the convention but has not taken any steps to accede to it. Papua New Guinea voted in favor of the United Nations (UN) resolution supporting the convention in December 2018. It is not known to have used, produced, transferred, or stockpiled cluster munitions.

Policy

Papua New Guinea (PNG) has not yet acceded to the Convention on Cluster Munitions.

PNG has never commented on why it has not taken any steps to accede to the convention. In February 2018, it attended a Pacific Conference on Conventional Weapons Treaties and adopted the conference’s “Auckland Declaration,” acknowledging “the clear moral and humanitarian rationale for joining” the Convention on Cluster Munitions. [1]

During the Oslo Process, PNG participated in the Wellington Conference on Cluster Munitions in February 2008 and adopted the Convention on Cluster Munitions in Dublin on 30 May 2008. A government representative was present at the Signing Conference in Oslo in December 2008 but indicated that he did not have the correct paperwork ready to sign the convention at the time. [2]

PNG has never participated as an observer in a meeting of the Convention on Cluster Munitions. It has attended regional workshops on the convention, most recently in Manila, Philippines on 18–19 June 2019. [3]

In December 2018, PNG voted in favor of a UN General Assembly (UNGA) resolution that urges states outside the Convention on Cluster Munitions to “join as soon as possible.” [4] It has voted in favor of the annual UNGA resolution promoting the convention since it was first introduced in 2015.

PNG has also voted in favor of UNGA resolutions expressing outrage at the use of cluster munitions in Syria, most recently in December 2018. [5]

PNG is a State Party to the Mine Ban Treaty. It is not a party to the Convention on Conventional Weapons.

Use, production, transfer, and stockpiling

PNG is not known to have ever used, produced, transferred, or stockpiled cluster munitions.



 [1] According to the declaration, during the meeting “some states not yet party to the Convention undertook to positively consider membership of it.” “Auckland Declaration on Conventional Weapons Treaties,” Pacific Conference on Conventional Weapons Treaties, Auckland, New Zealand, 12–14 February 2018.

 [2] Interview with Yu Minibi, Foreign Service Officer, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, in Oslo, 3 December 2008.

 [3]Asia-Pacific Workshop on CCM Universalization,” Convention on Cluster Munitions Quarterly Newsletter, April 2019.

 [4]Implementation of the Convention on Cluster Munitions,” UNGA Resolution 73/54, 5 December 2018.

 [5]Situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic,” UNGA Resolution 73/182, 17 December 2018. PNG voted in favor of similar resolutions in 2013–2017.


Mine Ban Policy

Last updated: 18 December 2019

Policy

Papua New Guinea acceded to the Mine Ban Treaty on 28 June 2004, becoming a State Party on 1 December 2004. Papua New Guinea believes that existing legislation is sufficient to enforce the antipersonnel mine prohibition domestically.

Papua New Guinea has not attended any recent meetings of the treaty. It did not attend the Third Review Conference in Maputo in June 2014. Papua New Guinea submitted its initial Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 report on 29 November 2004 but has not submitted subsequent reports.

Papua New Guinea is not party to the Convention on Conventional Weapons, nor is it party to the Convention on Cluster Munitions.  

Production, transfer, stockpile, and retention

Papua New Guinea has never used, produced, exported, or imported antipersonnel mines, including for training purposes. It is not believed to be mine-affected but parts of the country are contaminated by unexploded ordnance from World War II.