Papua New Guinea has reaffirmed its commitment to combating corruption at all levels, with the government highlighting sustained reforms and strengthened partnerships at the 11th Conference of States Parties (COSP11) to the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) in Doha, Qatar.
Speaking to delegates from 192 countries, Minister of State for the Ministry of Administrative Services, Richard Masere said, addressing corruption remains a key national priority, stressing that Papua New Guinea’s security, stability and sustainable development must not be undermined by unchecked corruption.
Minister Masere led a 21-member Papua New Guinea delegation comprising government officials, civil society representatives, the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) and members of the judiciary.
The delegation’s participation was supported by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the Papua New Guinea Government and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
He told the forum that the government’s ongoing reforms have strengthened collaboration between state institutions, civil society organizations, and bilateral and multilateral development partners, both domestically and across the region.
Among key initiatives highlighted were the Whistle-blower Protection Act, passed in 2020, which is currently under review to expand protections for individuals reporting corruption, and ongoing reviews of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing legislation to align with Financial Action Task Force (FATF) recommendations.
Minister Masere also said Papua New Guinea has mobilized capacity-building programmes for integrity institutions, the judiciary and law enforcement agencies.
These efforts have included corruption risk assessments across national and provincial government agencies, with the findings expected to inform the country’s next national anti-corruption strategy.
He welcomed UNODC’s decision to establish a programme office in Papua New Guinea, saying it has strengthened engagement and cooperation in implementing UNCAC and its Implementation Review Mechanism.
Officer in Charge of UNODC’s Programme Office for Papua New Guinea, Ms. Marie Jane Fatiaki, welcomed the minister’s remarks, noting that tackling corruption requires a whole-of-society approach.
She said Papua New Guinea’s inclusion of civil society in its official delegations demonstrated its commitment to corruption prevention and accountability.
Papua New Guinea also featured prominently in a judicial side-event at COSP titled “Judicial well-being as the foundation of judicial integrity.”
Speakers included Chief Justice Sir Gibuma Gibbs Salika, Justice John Carey, and Justice Rangajeeva Wimalasena of the Supreme and National Courts.
Chief Justice Salika said the attendance of Minister Masere and other government officials at the session signaled strong national support for judicial integrity.
Senior Vice Chair of the American Bar Association, David Sachar, told participants he was guided by a Papua New Guinean saying: “A path is made by those who walk it.”
Other PNG delegates contributed to special sessions, including Deputy Secretary of the Department of Justice and Attorney General, Mrs Josephine Pitmur, who spoke on building trust and collaboration between government and non-state actors in implementing Papua New Guinea’s National Anti-Corruption Strategy.
UNODC’s anti-corruption work in Papua New Guinea is supported through the European Union-funded PNG Anti-Corruption Project and the Fairness and Accountability Now bilong Gutpla Sindaun (FANGS) Project, funded by the United States Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs.
