Domestic Violence and Family Law in Papua New Guinea

Abstract

This paper arose from a research project on family protection orders (FPOs) in Papua New Guinea (PNG), during which it became apparent that many matters being brought to the police and courts involved both domestic violence and family law issues. It also became clear that there was a lack of current information available regarding family law in PNG, with the only comprehensive textbook on the subject last updated over 25 years ago. This paper seeks to provide an overview of PNG’s family law architecture, explain how it is administered by PNG courts and discuss the interaction between family law and domestic violence matters. It concludes with some suggestions that could make the system easier to navigate for PNG citizens.