The Power of Mercy in PNG

In this article Moses Sakai explores Papua New Guinea’s recently established Advisory Committee on the Power of Mercy (ACPM). 

The Committee, which gives those on death row an opportunity to plead for clemency, is a quasi-judicial body that ultimately decides the fate of death row prisoners. It is a last resort for these inmates after they exhaust all appeals to the Supreme Court. 

PNG is party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and PNG’s own Constitution recognises “right to life” as fundamental. Retention of the death penalty in PNG not only contradicts these rights, but it has been proven ineffective as a deterrent. 

Sakai argues that the PNG government should now consider establishing a moratorium on the death penalty, which would pave the way for abolition.