The report emphasizes the importance of protecting children's rights in Papua New Guinea (PNG), where children constitute approximately 40% of the population. Backed by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which PNG ratified in 1993, the Lukautim Pikinini Act of 2009 and its subsequent policy (2015-2020) aim to promote the well-being and rights of all children, ensuring a coordinated approach among various stakeholders. The Act defines a child in need of protection as one who faces abandonment, abuse, neglect, or harmful environments, and outlines criteria for emergency protection. The overarching goal is to enhance the quality of life for children across different settings, acknowledging their need for safety and care regardless of their background.
Children have Rights
Children have rights. Papua New Guinea has one of the youngest popula ons in the Pacific region.
Children comprise approximately forty percent of the PNG popula on. Public policy to protect
children is important in any society; it is par cularly important in Papua New Guinea at this me.
Every child in Papua New Guinea requires protec on from all forms of harm and danger.
FAMILIES
SETTINGS
0 - 18 19 - 25 26 - 60 60+ YEARS OLD
COMMUNITIES
LUKAUTIM PIKININI YOUTH PRODUCTIVE AGE ELDERLY
EDUCATION/ LITERACY (ECCD, Adult Literacy, TVET, Elementary, Primary, Secondary & Tertiary, Open Learning
INTERGRATED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT (Learning, Economics, Governance & Environment)
HEALTH (Antenatal, Environmental Health, Malaria, TB, Nutrition, Health Promotion
SOCIAL INCLSION (Women Empowerment, Child Protection, Gender Equality, Disability, etc)
LABOUR & EMPLOYMENT ENVIRONMENT CLIMATE CHANGE EFFECT
DISASTER URBANISATION & SETTLEMENT FOOD SECURITY
URBAN
RURAL
FORMAL
INFORMAL
POVERTY
HUMAN
STATUS
SITUATIONS
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The UN Convenion on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) is the primary instrument which provides
Internaional Standards and Guidelines for addressing the rights of children. PNG raified the UNCRC
in March 1993. PNG acknowledge a commitment to uphold the requirements of the Internaional
Convenion. This requirement led to the development of the Lukauim Pikinini Act in 2009.
Lukauim Pikinini: The Protecion of Children
As stated in the Act, Lukauim Pikinini is a Tok Pisin term meaning “the care, protecion and
promoion of the rights and well-being of all children regardless of their race, religion, sex, ability or
disability and naionality”.
The Lukauim Pikinini Policy 2015 - 2020, embraces the direcions of the Lukauim Pikinini Act 2015.
The policy calls for the promoion of rights and the protecion of the well-being of all children in
PNG. The policy also calls for a coordinated effort by all stakeholders whether government, religious
organisaions, non-government organisaions or private sector to strengthen partnerships and to
reinforce the direcions of the Lukauim Pikinini Act.
Consistent with the Lukauim Pikinini Act, the Lukauim Pikinini Policy will provide and
implementaion framework to reinforce the commitment of Government to all aspects of the quality
of life of children in PNG.
Within this context, the Act defines a Child in need of Protecion:
• Whose parents are dead or incapacitated by and adequate provision has not been made for
the child‘s care
• Who has been abandoned by their parents and adequate provision has not been made for
the child‘s care
• Who has suffered or is likely to suffer significant harm as a result of physical abuse or mal -
treatment
• Who has been, or, is likely to be physically harmed, sexually abused or sexually exploited
• Who has been, or is likely to be physically harmed, sexually abused or sexually exploited by
some person other than the child‘s parent, and the parent is unwilling or unable to protect
the child
• Who has been, or likely to be physically harmed because of neglect by the child‘s parents, or
who is sexually or emoionally abused by the child‘s parents or guardian
• Whose development is likely to be seriously impaired by treatable condiion and the child‘s
parents refuse to provide or consent to treatment
• Who is living in a household where there have been incidents of domesic violence and, as a
consequence, the child is at risk of serious physical or physiological harm
• Who is or has been absent from home in circumstances that endanger the child‘s safety or
well-being
• Who has serious differences with their parents to such an extent that the physical, mental,
or emoional well-being of the child is being seriously impaired (or threatened) or the care
and control of the child is likely to be seriously affected
The Policy will also recognise that a child may also be a child for whom Emergency Protecion
Powers can be invoked. These can happen, where a child:
• Has been abandoned shortly ater delivery
• Appears lost or to have run away
• Shows signs that their health or safety are in immediate danger
Summarize the above report to one paragraph
3 answers
The social sector policy framework in Papua New Guinea focuses on the protection and promotion of children's rights, recognizing the significant portion of the population that children represent. It is guided by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Lukautim Pikinini Act, which underscores the need for coordinated efforts among government, NGOs, religious organizations, and the private sector. Key aspects of the framework include integrated community development, education, health, social inclusion, labor, and disaster resilience, all aimed at ensuring children's well-being and protection from harm. The framework categorizes children in need of protection based on various risks, including abandonment, abuse, neglect, and exposure to domestic violence, while also establishing provisions for emergency protection in critical situations. This comprehensive approach aims to enhance the quality of life for children throughout PNG.