News

PACP Secretariat to be based in PNG

Posted 23 Nov 2012

Image: President of Kiribati the Hon Anote Tong (C) and Solomon Islands PM the Hon Gordon Lilo at the PACP luncheon on 22 November 2012: The Solomon Star.

Rule of law challenges in the South Pacific

Posted 20 Nov 2012

The Chief Justice of Queensland, the Hon Paul de Jersey, reflects on the rule of law in the South Pacific in The Courier Mail, 15 November 2012. His honour wrote:

SPC assists countries with maritime boundary treaties and deep sea mining

Posted 14 Nov 2012

Image: An SPC staff carries out a survey of barrier reef topography in Saipan, Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands.

The High Commissioner for Kiribati in Fiji, Ms Retata Nikuata-Rimon, yesterday thanked the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) for assisting her atoll nation with its maritime boundaries, hydrographic nautical charts and deep-sea mining.
On the latter, she said it was an area ‘in which there is growing interest as it offers potential for social and economic development, although we must be cautious about the environmental impact’.

SPC annual meeting discusses regional challenges

Posted 12 Nov 2012

Image: Delegates at SPC’s annual meeting in Noumea.
Government representatives from the Secretariat of the Pacific Community’s 26 member countries are meeting in Noumea this week to discuss new approaches to addressing overlapping regional challenges, such as ensuring food security, preventing non-communicable diseases and adapting to climate change. SPC is advocating a consolidated, multi-disciplinary approach to the big problems of the day, including climate change, food security and non-communicable diseases.

20th conference of judges focuses on rule of law, justice and democracy

Posted 09 Nov 2012

Image: Chief Justice of Solomons Islands, Sir Albert R Palmer CBE

Rule of law challenges the focus of 2012 PILON meeting

Posted 07 Nov 2012

Image: The Hon Kerenga Kua LLB, OL, MP, Minister for Justice and Attorney General, Papua New Guinea.

The 31st Annual Meeting of the Pacific Island Law Officers' Network (PILON) was held in Kokopo in East New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea, on 29-31 October 2012.
The theme of this year's PILON meeting was 'Challenges and strategies to enhance democratic governance and the rule of law'. It also focused on the role of government lawyers and the need for anti-corruption regimes.

Australian Human Rights Commission concerned for Nauru hunger strikers

Posted 05 Nov 2012

The President of the Australian Human Rights Commission, Professor Gillian Triggs, has told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that the Commission would be raising its concerns about the human rights of asylum seekers with the Australian Government. About 170 detainees on Nauru are reported to be on a hunger strike. Professor Triggs also noted that it is possible for complaints to be taken to the United Nations Human Rights Committee and that Australia can expect to be questioned about its asylum laws and policies by the United Nations Human Rights Council.

The High Courts in Solomons Islands and Australia agree that rape in marriage is unlawful

Posted 05 Nov 2012

The Solomon Islands' High Court in Regina v Gua [2012] SBHC 118 found that a husband charged with raping his estranged wife had a case to answer, and rejected a 'no case' submission. The Solomons Islands Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions successfully argued that husbands may be found guilty of raping their wives.

Fiji Police trained to detect money laundering

Posted 26 Oct 2012

Fiji's Finance Intelligence Unit (FIU) has provided training to Fiji Police to detect and deal with money laundering and cyber crime after uncovering 23 cases of money laundering.
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