Population figures
Total country population
10,515,788
Forcibly displaced population
Refugees (under UNHCR's mandate):
10,320
Asylum-seekers:
3,251
IDPs (of concern to UNHCR):
95,000
Other people in need of international protection:
0
Other
Statelessness persons
0
Host community
134
Others of concern to UNHCR
1,933
Country context
Papua New Guinea (PNG) is a Pacific island nation located to the north of Australia, sharing maritime borders with Indonesia to the west and the Solomon Islands to the southeast. The country is a party to the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol. The legal framework for refugee protection is primarily outlined in the Migration Act 1978 and the Migration Regulation 1979, which incorporate the Refugee Status Guidelines. These guidelines establish the procedures for refugee status determination (RSD) in PNG.
In recent years, PNG has made efforts to strengthen its capacity to conduct RSD. The Immigration and Citizenship Service Authority has received training to enhance its ability to assess asylum claims. Additionally, the National Refugee Policy, adopted in 2015, aims to provide a comprehensive approach to refugee protection, including the establishment of a legal framework for RSD and the integration of refugees into local communities.
...PNG has not acceded to the 1954 Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons or the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness. The country's nationality law is based on the principle of jus soli, granting citizenship to individuals born within its territory. However, there are concerns about the potential for statelessness among certain groups, particularly children born to parents without recognized citizenship status. The absence of specific legal provisions for the protection of stateless persons may leave such individuals without a clear legal status.
PNG is affected by forced internally displacement primarily caused by natural disasters, such as earthquakes and floods. The country does not have a dedicated legal framework for the protection of IDPs, and their rights and needs are often addressed on an ad hoc basis. Efforts to develop a national policy for IDPs have been undertaken, but challenges remain in ensuring comprehensive protection and assistance for displaced populations.
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