The final leg of Papua New Guinea’s regional consultations on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) concluded today in Buka, marking a major step in the country’s efforts to fulfil its international human rights reporting obligations.

 The two-day workshop, held from September 25 to 26, brought together representatives from the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG), national government agencies, people with disabilities, and members of civil society, including churches and non-government organizations.

The consultations are supported by the Building Community Engagement Program (BCEP) and aim to prepare PNG’s combined initial and periodic report to the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities—a key requirement following the country’s ratification of the CRPD.

Speaking on behalf of the Secretary of the Department for Community Development and Religion (DFCDR), Mr. Jerry Ubase, Deputy Secretary Karen Haive opened the event and emphasized the government’s ongoing commitment to disability inclusion.

“As a government, our approach to supporting people with disabilities is guided by key national policy frameworks that promote the message: ‘Remove Barriers, Make Rights Real,’” said Ms. Haive.

She noted that PNG has ratified six of the nine core United Nations human rights treaties, with DFCDR leading the implementation of three—including the CRPD.

Representing the Autonomous Bougainville Government, Mr. Donovan Tami, Manager for Mandatory and Social Services, welcomed participants and outlined key objectives within Bougainville’s Disability Policy, reinforcing the region’s support for inclusive development.

During the workshop, participants engaged in open dialogue and completed structured questionnaires assessing how services such as education, health, infrastructure, and transport are being made accessible to persons with disabilities.

The feedback gathered is critical in assessing PNG’s progress in implementing the CRPD and will directly feed into the drafting of the national report.

With all four regional consultations now completed, attention shifts to consultations with national agencies, followed by three report drafting workshops and a final validation session.

The process is led by a Technical Working Group (TWG) comprised of representatives from:

· Department for Community Development and Religion (DFCDR)

· Department of Justice and Attorney General (DJAG)

· Department of Prime Minister and NEC (PM&NEC)

· National Statistical Office (NSO)

· Department of Health

· Department of Treasury

· Department of Foreign Affairs

· State Solicitor’s Office, among other key departments.

Once completed, the final report will be submitted to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, fulfilling PNG’s reporting requirement and contributing to global efforts toward disability inclusion.