PNG Legal Systems & Customary Law

UPNG's legal research explores the unique dual legal system of Papua New Guinea, where customary law and common law coexist. Our researchers examine how traditional dispute resolution, land rights, and community justice interact with the formal legal framework.

Key Research Themes

• Customary land tenure and registration
• Village courts and community justice
• Constitutional development in PNG
• Human rights in Melanesian contexts
• Law reform and legislative drafting