Papua New Guinea
Death penalty and prisoners' rights · Archive since 1999
Data card
- Legal status
- Abolitionist
- Executions recorded in 2026
- 0
- Executions recorded in 2025
- 0
- First news item in the archive
- JANUARY 1, 1999 · Papua New Guinea was a cosponsor of the amendments...
- News items in the archive
- 91
Source: Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026.
Papua New Guinea is classified as Abolitionist in the Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026. In 2026 the association recorded 0 executions in the country, against 0 the year before. The archive holds 91 news items on Papua New Guinea, from 1999 to today.
Latest news
- DECEMBER 12, 2007Papua New GuineaDEATH PENALTY
PAPUA NEW GUINEA MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR CHILD MURDER
the National Court in Buka, Papua New Guinea, sentenced a Bougainvillean to death. Justice Mark Sevua made the ruling on Sohano Island after finding Clarence Tema Mongi of Lonahan Village, Buka Island, guilty of wilful murder and rape of a seven year old
- OCTOBER 23, 2007Papua New GuineaDEATH PENALTY
LAW UNCLEAR ON CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
Papuan New Guinea Minister Tony Aimo said although the Criminal Act allowed the courts to impose a death sentence, the methods of doing so were not specified and the Correctional Service will look into current execution methods
- OCTOBER 4, 2007Papua New GuineaDEATH PENALTY
PAPUA NEW GUINEA. 2 MEN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR BEHEADING "WITCH"
two men in Papua New Guinea who murdered a woman by chopping her head off
- JANUARY 1, 2007Papua New GuineaDEATH PENALTY
Murder, treason and piracy are capital crimes.
Murder, treason and piracy are capital crimes.
- MAY 19, 2006Papua New GuineaDEATH PENALTY
PAPUA NEW GUINEA. DEATH PENALTY COMMUTED FOR THREE CONVICTED OF MURDER
the Waigani Supreme Court, Papua New Guinea, commuted into life imprisonment the penalties of three men from the country’s West New Britain province.
- APRIL 12, 2006Papua New GuineaDEATH PENALTY
PAPUA NEW GUINEA. DEATH PENALTY COULD BE ABOLISHED
new Justice Minister Bire Kimisopa said during a press conference in Port Moresby that Papua New Guinea was not yet ready to impose the death penalty.
- JANUARY 1, 2006Papua New GuineaDEATH PENALTY
Murder, treason and piracy are capital crimes.
Murder, treason and piracy are capital crimes.
- NOVEMBER 9, 2005Papua New GuineaDEATH PENALTY
PAPUA NEW GUINEA. TOP COP URGES USE OF DEATH PENALTY
PNG Acting Assistant Commissioner Giossi Labi called for the Government to ensure the death penalty was imposed on serious murder cases. Labi, upset at the murder of leading businessman Russell Green in Lae the night before, said it was time for the death
- APRIL 5, 2005Papua New GuineaDEATH PENALTY
PAPUA NEW GUINEA. BISHOP CALLS FOR DEATH FOR GUN-RELATED CRIMES
the head of the Gutnius Lutheran Church, Bishop David Piso, called for capital punishment in Papua New Guinea for people convicted of gun-related offences. Bishop Piso, said the government had been given the power to enforce the law with capital punishmen
- FEBRUARY 23, 2005Papua New GuineaDEATH PENALTY
PAPUA NEW GUINEA. MINISTER DEFENDS DEATH PENALTY FACT FINDING TOUR
Papua New Guinea Justice Minister Mark Maipakai's extensive death penalty fact-finding trip overseas in 2004 came under the spotlight.
- JANUARY 1, 2005Papua New GuineaDEATH PENALTY
Murder, treason and piracy are capital crimes.
Murder, treason and piracy are capital crimes.
- OCTOBER 21, 2004Papua New GuineaDEATH PENALTY
Anna Keral Galang, a representative in the Western...
Anna Keral Galang, a representative in the Western Highlands Province of Papua New Guinea strongly called on the National Government to hang rapists and on the courts to issue the death penalty for the offence
- OCTOBER 1, 2004Papua New GuineaDEATH PENALTY
A person sentenced for murder has caused the end of...
A person sentenced for murder has caused the end of another person's life but the killer could be used to help make reparation, said Bishop Peter Fox
- OCTOBER 1, 2004Papua New GuineaDEATH PENALTY
The British High Commissioner outlined the results...
The British High Commissioner outlined the results of a survey they had initiated to gauge public opinion about the death penalty in Papua New Guinea
- SEPTEMBER 30, 2004Papua New GuineaDEATH PENALTY
Papua New Guinea's former chief justice, Sir Arnold...
Papua New Guinea's former chief justice, Sir Arnold Amet, said PNG courts were not competent to handle cases which might involved the death penalty
- SEPTEMBER 9, 2004Papua New GuineaDEATH PENALTY
It was reported that the British high commission was...
It was reported that the British high commission was bringing in a "specialist" to Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea to talk about the death penalty and its impact on the community during a week long seminar on capital punishment
- AUGUST 31, 2004Papua New GuineaDEATH PENALTY
"I am embarrassed for Papua New Guinea," Prime Minister...
"I am embarrassed for Papua New Guinea," Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare said regarding the culture of sexual violence against women and children in the country
- APRIL 16, 2004Papua New GuineaDEATH PENALTY
Amnesty International said Papua New Guinea's pursuit...
Amnesty International said Papua New Guinea's pursuit of the death penalty was leaving it internationally isolated and called on the country to place an immediate moratorium on any executions
- APRIL 16, 2004Papua New GuineaDEATH PENALTY
The Papua New Guinea government should halt its moves...
The Papua New Guinea government should halt its moves towards executions and work with international donors to establish a more effective system of fighting violent crime, Amnesty International said
- APRIL 12, 2004Papua New GuineaDEATH PENALTY
Murder, treason and piracy are capital crimes.
Murder, treason and piracy are capital crimes.
- MARCH 29, 2004Papua New GuineaDEATH PENALTY
Papua New Guinea was looking at the possibility of...
Papua New Guinea was looking at the possibility of adopting death penalty laws used in Singapore
- MARCH 29, 2004Papua New GuineaDEATH PENALTY
Ben Simakot, convicted of raping a mother and then...
Ben Simakot, convicted of raping a mother and then bludgeoned her and her two-year-old son to death with an iron bar, was sentenced to death in Vanimo, Papua New Guinea
- FEBRUARY 18, 2004Papua New GuineaDEATH PENALTY
It was reported that four prisoners on death in Papua...
It was reported that four prisoners on death in Papua New Guinea were awaiting execution as they had exhausted all their appeals
- FEBRUARY 13, 2004Papua New GuineaDEATH PENALTY
With the increase of serious crimes against women and...
With the increase of serious crimes against women and armed robberies, Papua New Guinea Justice Minister Mark Maipakai said the Government of was reviewing the death penalty provisions in the country's Criminal Code
- DECEMBER 8, 2003Papua New GuineaDEATH PENALTY
Criminal execution methods used in Southeast Asian...
Criminal execution methods used in Southeast Asian countries would be studied in detail to find a suitable system for use in Papua New Guinea, said Justice Minister Mark Maipakai
- NOVEMBER 24, 2003Papua New GuineaDEATH PENALTY
Lady Carol Kidu, Ministrer of Social Welfare and Development...
Lady Carol Kidu, Ministrer of Social Welfare and Development in Papua New Guinea, said judges should start fast-tracking the worst criminals for hanging
- NOVEMBER 11, 2003Papua New GuineaDEATH PENALTY
Papua New Guinea Justice Minister Mark Maipakai admitted...
Papua New Guinea Justice Minister Mark Maipakai admitted in parliament that there was a problem in how the death penalty would be carried out once it was imposed on a prisoner
- SEPTEMBER 27, 2003Papua New GuineaDEATH PENALTY
Papua New Guinea's National Court in Wabag, Enga Province,...
Papua New Guinea's National Court in Wabag, Enga Province, imposed the death penalty on Kepaka Langa, a 28-year-old man, after finding him guilty of wilfully murdering a pastor's son in an ambush in 2002
- JULY 7, 2003Papua New GuineaDEATH PENALTY
It was reported that a growing number of Papua New...
It was reported that a growing number of Papua New Guinea officials called for the implementation of the death penalty following a wave of violence in the capital
- APRIL 24, 2003Papua New GuineaDEATH PENALTY
At the 59th Session of the UN Commission on Human Rights...
At the 59th Session of the UN Commission on Human Rights , Papua New Guinea became the first de facto abolitionist country to sponsor the death penalty resolution, that was approved for the 7th consecutive year