Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea (PNG) is a large country in the South Pacific, which is unique in its cultural and ethnic diversity. In 2001, following a decade-long conflict, the National Government and the leaders representing the people of Bougainville (the most eastwards group of islands in Papua New Guinea) signed the Bougainville Peace Agreement. Under the terms of the Agreement, a referendum on the political status of Bougainville was held and credibly and peacefully concluded in December 2019 with 97.7% of votes in support of independence. Bougainville is now in the post-referendum process in an environment where complex challenges remain, including the ultimate political status of Bougainville and the socio-economic development of its people. Another dynamic of violence has been long present in PNG’s Highlands Region, relating to tribal conflict, and has intensified in scale through the presence of modern weapons and political competition, further exacerbated by limited social services and  perceived socio-economic marginalisation.