UN official calls on govt to move on human rights

United Nations Human Rights High Commissioner Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein has recommended to the Government to set up an independent national human rights institution.
He said this would facilitate interactions between the State and non-government organisations.
Zeid was encouraged by Prime Minister Peter O’Neill’s commitment to push through a bill establishing such an institution, and his recognition of the vital role of civil society.
But he was concerned about “attacks against human rights defenders and journalists working on sensitive issues, particularly relating to land rights and corruption”.
“I call on the Government to protect the important watchdog function of civil society, and indeed treat them as partners in tackling difficult human rights challenges, including the endemic gender-based violence and horrific attacks against those accused of sorcery,” he said.
Zeid said human rights defenders had pointed out that while PNG had ratified a number of key international human rights treaties and enshrined their provisions into law, the laws were often not translated into practice, and law enforcement officials and communities were often unaware of them.
“Legislating on human rights should not be just about ticking the box,” he said.
“Governments have a responsibility to breathe life into the provisions of the law by allocating resources to their implementation and harmonising policy and regulations.”
Zeid commended the creation of a National Human Rights Track Court which gives legal standing to any
individual or group that wishes to bring a human rights-related case to court.