National Policy to advocate against LGBTQIA+ in Vanuatu: MoJCS
Vanuatu's Ministry of Justice and Community Services will appoint a new committee next week to draft a National Policy banning all LGBTQIA+ advocacy and
Law
Fiji AG calls for law reform, climate action at PILON meeting
Fiji’s Attorney-General Graham Leung has urged Pacific law officers to address the region’s pressing legal challenges, highlighting climate change, digital transformation, and rising authoritarianism as critical
Lawmaker says Guam, CNMI must ‘look after each other’ amid rising tensions in the region
In the face of escalating threats in the region, Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas (CNMI) House Floor Leader Edwin Propst said Guam and the Northern Marianas must join hands in preparing the island communities for
No one is above the law, says Fiji’s Attorney General
“No one, including the elected Government of the day, is above the law”, says Fiji’s Attorney General, Graham Leung. While delivering his maiden speech in Parliament this week, Leung said that the rule of law was
Cook Islands Bill to safeguard Manatua Cable passed with fines up to $250,000
A monetary fine will be imposed on anyone who breaches the Manatua Cable Protection Bill 2024 in Cook Islands. The bill, passed by Cook Islands Parliament last Thursday, safeguards the Manatua One Polynesian Cable from
Opinion: Decriminalisation of same-sex relations in Cook Islands
On 14 April 2023, during the second reading of the Crimes (Sexual Offence) Amendment Bill 2023, Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown, in this speech, said: We are a free country, we have freedom of speech, we have
Hawaii poised to slap tourists with $25 climate tax
Lawmakers in Hawaii are poised to approve a US$25 climate tax on tourists who visit the Aloha State in an effort to combat what they claim is an assault on the area’s natural resources. The state, which saw 9.5
Tonga government to ‘talanoa’ with King about “unconstitutional” directive
Tonga’s Acting Prime Minister, Samiuela Vaipulu says the government will resolve its differences with the King “the Pacific Way”. This comes after the government rejected a directive from the Privy Council,
Former PNG PM worried about laws to curb media, freedom of speech
The Papua New Guinea Government plans to introduce laws to curb free speech and freedom of the press, former prime minister Peter O’Neill says. In a statement, O’Neill said the same law would jail any journalist or
Palau ratifies UN Ocean Treaty
Palau on Monday became the first nation to officially ratify the UN Ocean Treaty. “As the first country to officially ratify the UN Ocean Treaty, Palau has jumped into the lead in the race to ratification,” said
New Caledonia passes first sugar tax bill
New Caledonia’s Congress has endorsed, for the first time, a new “flexible” tax on sugar products. The tax, in its initial stages, targets a first list of sugary food products. During the Congress
Mixed signs of agreement, warnings mark end of latest treaty talks
The third round of the plastics treaty negotiations concluded 19 November on a very mixed note, with countries agreeing to move forward but with environmental groups delivering sharp warnings that the talks risk failure
A significant contribution to international law on statehood: Former Tuvalu Foreign Minister
In a world grappling with the complex challenges of climate change, Tuvalu’s recent adoption of a new Constitution and the unanimous endorsement of a declaration by the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders stand out as a
12 Vanuatu government bills for debate
Amid mounting allegations of another potential motion of no confidence, Vanuatu’s Office of the Speaker of Parliament confirmed to the Vanuatu Daily Post that no motion of no confidence has been officially
Organisations call for swift ratification and implementation of BBNJ Treaty
The European Union (EU) and the Organisation of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS) are calling for a rapid ratification and implementation of the BBNJ Agreement to address the triple planetary crisis of
Pacific women face most discrimination in legal profession, survey finds
The Pacific Lawyers Association is concerned Pacific women are the most discriminated against group within the legal profession in New Zealand. The NZ Law Society has just released a new legal workplace survey which
Solomon Islands Opposition leader outlines weaknesses in Truth and Reconciliation Commission report
Solomon Islands leader of Opposition Matthew Wale has revealed weaknesses in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Act. Speaking in Parliament in Honiara this week, Wale said firstly there is a lack of a
Pacific calls for immediate ratification of Highseas Treaty
As the global community embrace the adoption of the new Biodiversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) treaty, the Pacific are calling on the international community to seize this milestone momentum and rally
Palau names 63 undersea mounts, extending its undersea claim
Palau has named 63 undersea mounts and basins on the Palau-Kyushu Ridge, the singular underwater ridge that connects Palau to Japan. These 63 mounts occur outside Palau’s Exclusive Economic Zone, north of Palau’s
UNAIDS: Cook Islands’ original path toward equality
On 14 April, members of the Cook Islands rainbow community assembled at parliament with colourful flags and cautious optimism. It turned out to be the day they’d been working toward for the last twelve years.
Bill seeks the establishment of foreign agents registry in Palau
A House bill is calling for the establishment of a foreign agents registry in Palau which will require persons representing foreign interests to make a public disclosure. House Bill 11-90-09 requires
We are truly one nation, one people: Pride Cook Islands
Pride Cook Islands is elated to see the decade long active push for decriminalisation finally take place in Cook Islands Parliament. The Crimes (Sexual Offences) Amendment Bill 2023 was passed in Parliament on
Tougher anti-human trafficking bill passed in Palau
Palau’s House of Delegates passed on its third and final reading a Senate bill 11-73 to expand, update and strengthen the anti-human smuggling and human trafficking act. The bill amends the current law ‘to bring