IBAHRI Commends Papua New Guinea’s Vote to Abolish the Death Penalty

The recent decision of the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea to repeal the death penalty has been applauded by the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute: you can read their statement here. 

The vote was also welcomed by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, who also noted that of the 193 UN Member States, 170 states have either abolished the death penalty or do not practise it. 

As a result of the recent vote, the Criminal Code Act of Papua New Guinea will be amended so that offences such as murder, treason, piracy and aggravated rape will now be punishable by life imprisonment without parole, or parole after 30 years.