UN Committee AGAIN urges Papua New Guinea to act on unlawful land leases and logging abuses

The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) has issued a strongly worded letter urging the Papua New Guinea Government to take urgent action to protect Indigenous land rights and address the continuing impacts of unlawful land leases and controversial logging projects.

In its letter of 25 August 2026, the Committee expresses serious concern over the Government's failure to implement the recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry into Special Agricultural and Business Leases (SABLs), and the ongoing misuse of Forest Clearing Authority (FCA) logging licences on customary land.

The Committee says PNG has an obligation to recognise and protect the rights of Indigenous Peoples to own, control, develop and use their communal lands, territories and natural resources. It calls on the Government to ensure that customary landowners are properly informed about proposed land and forestry developments and that leases are granted only with their free, prior and informed consent.

CERD also criticises the prolonged delay and lack of transparency in revoking SABLs, despite the National Executive Council's 2014 decision to cancel leases that a Commission of Inquiry found were largely unlawful due to corruption and mismanagement.

The Committee notes that the Government has still not published a complete list of SABLs, preventing affected customary landowners from accessing justice and seeking remedies for damage to their lands and resources.

It further raises concerns that foreign companies continue to exploit SABLs for logging and large-scale plantation development, resulting in the destruction of traditional livelihoods, environmental degradation and widespread harm to remote rural communities.

On Forest Clearing Authorities, CERD highlights allegations of irregularities in the Papua New Guinea Forest Authority's audit process and warns that FCA licences may be being used to circumvent the requirement for the free, prior and informed consent of Indigenous landowners.

The Committee has urged the Government to:

• transparently implement the SABL Commission of Inquiry recommendations;
• review laws governing consultation with Indigenous Peoples;
• undertake human rights and environmental impact assessments for SABL projects;
• provide effective remedies and fair compensation for communities whose lands have been occupied or damaged; and
• ensure customary landowners have meaningful access to justice.

Significantly, CERD notes that PNG has not responded to four previous communications sent by the Committee in 2011, 2016, 2018 and January 2026, and has requested that the Government address these issues in its long-overdue report under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.