Papua New Guinea
Cluster Munition Ban Policy
Summary
Non-signatory Papua New Guinea adopted the convention in 2008, but has not taken any steps to accede to it. It has never participated in a meeting of the convention. Papua New Guinea voted in favor of a key United Nations (UN) resolution promoting the convention in December 2020.
Papua New Guinea is not known to have used, produced, transferred, or stockpiled cluster munitions.
Policy
Papua New Guinea (PNG) has not acceded to the Convention on Cluster Munitions.
PNG has not commented on its position on joining the convention, but a government indicated in 2019 that internal meetings were being held to study the implications of accession.[1] PNG attended a regional disarmament conference in Auckland, New Zealand in February 2018, which issued a declaration affirming “the clear moral and humanitarian rationale” for joining the Convention on Cluster Munitions.[2]
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 Oslo Signing Conference in December 2008, but indicated that he lacked the correct paperwork to sign the convention.[3]
PNG has never participated in a meeting of the Convention on Cluster Munitions, even as an observer. However, it has attended regional workshops on the convention, such as one hosted by the Philippines in Manila, in June 2019.[4]
In December 2020, PNG voted in favor of a UN General Assembly (UNGA) resolution urging states outside the Convention on Cluster Munitions to “join as soon as possible.”[5] It voted in favor of the annual UNGA resolution promoting the convention in 2015–2018 and was absent from the vote in 2019.
PNG has previously voted in favor of UNGA resolutions expressing outrage at the use of cluster munitions in Syria, most recently in December 2019.[6]
PNG is a State Party to the Mine Ban Treaty. It is not party to the Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW).
Use, production, transfer, and stockpiling
PNG is not known to have ever used, produced, transferred, or stockpiled cluster munitions.
[1] Additionally, an internal PNG government workshop on the convention planned for March 2020 was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Email from Peter Mirino, Director, Border and Security Division, PNG Customs Services, 15 May 2020.
[2] 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.
[3] Interview with Yu Minibi, Foreign Service Officer, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, in Oslo, Norway, 3 December 2008.
[4] “Asia-Pacific Workshop on CCM Universalization,” Convention on Cluster Munitions Quarterly Newsletter, April 2019.
[5] “Implementation of the Convention on Cluster Munitions”, UNGA Resolution 75/62, 7 December 2020.
[6] “Situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic,” UNGA Resolution 74/169, 18 December 2019. PNG voted in favor of similar resolutions in 2013–2018. PNG abstained from the vote on a similar resolution in December 2020.
Mine Ban Policy
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.