The Constitution of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea

The fundamental law of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea defines the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, its area and national legal system. It sets forth the basic principles of government including national goals and directive principles. It also provides the Basic Rights of individuals which are mainly the right to freedom or the right to do anything that does not injure or interfere with the rights and freedoms of others and is not prohibited by law; no person is obliged to do anything that is not required by law; and no person may be prevented from doing anything that does not injure others and is not prohibited by law. It also provides for Fundamental Rights (right to life, freedom from inhumane treatment and protection of the law), and certain qualified rights (such as liberty, from forced labor, arbitrary search and entry, conscience, thought and religion, expression, assembly and association, employment, privacy, vote and stand for public office and freedom of information, movement, unjust deprivation of property, and equality). It also provides for citizenship and the structure of government.