The Australian Volunteers Program strives to provide a safe, supportive and equitable environment for LGBTQIA+ volunteers, approved accompanying dependents, partner organisations and all program staff. The Australian Volunteers Program has supported queer volunteers in all program countries and has ongoing connections with community organisations in many countries and regions in which the program operates.
This guide introduces a snapshot of the local context for queer and gender diverse people. LGBTQIA+ program participants must be aware of the country context before undertaking an assignment. If you are an LGBTQIA+ volunteer, you will need to:
- do your own research and understand what the local law says you can and can't do when in-country
- follow the local laws, even if you disagree with them
- be aware of the legal protections for LGBTQIA+ people in your destinations
- consider if you’re comfortable living and working in a place where you may not be able to live as openly as you can in some parts of Australia.
Language
Terminology may differ across urban and rural contexts, provinces or ethnic and cultural groups. Information sourced online can be outdated or inaccurate. For current and accurate information, please confirm with an appropriate civil society organisation (CSO) or ask your in-country team.
LGBTI is the most common umbrella term used for sexual and gender identities in PNG. The term “palopa” is increasingly used in urban Post Morseby to describe a third gender identity.
Legal and policy context
Same-sex sexual acts are criminalised in national law in PNG, with a maximum prison sentence of 14 years. In 2011, the PNG Government informed the United Nations that it would not decriminalise homosexuality.
In March 2015, one male was given a suspended sentence of two years’ imprisonment for committing an ‘indecent act between males.’ In 2022, two men caught having sex in a health centre in Morobe were charged with committing an unnatural offence. The men were released on bail. The outcome of this case has not been covered in the media.
For the Submission to the Universal Periodic Review of PNG by Human Rights Watch in 2021, PNG noted recommendations to amend national legislation to include sexual orientation and gender as prohibited grounds for discrimination.
There is a culture of impunity and lawlessness in PNG, with a high level of abuse by authority figures. Crimes perpetrated by police and law enforcement against children have been recorded by Human Rights Watch, including rape and torture. There is extreme violence against women, with more than two-thirds of women in PNG experiencing domestic violence. There is reporting of rape, assault and murder of gay men in PNG.
In 2023, the Prime Minister James Marape came out strongly against LGBTQIA+ rights while reacting to an incident where the United States embassy flew a pride flag, reportedly prompting public outrage. Marape dismissed any speculations of a bill being introduced to Parliament to legitimise LGBTQIA+ rights and added: 'As far both our Melanesian and Christian worldviews are concerned, these unnatural practices are not allowed. And I ask those who are invited residents of Papua New Guinea to respect our national mindset and character.'
Discrimination
No legal protections exist for LGBTQIA+ people in PNG. This includes a lack of constitutional protection and national laws that protect against discrimination, laws that protect against discrimination in employment, and laws that protect against hate crimes, incitement to hatred, hate crimes or discrimination based on one’s sexual and/or gender identities.
Cultural and societal attitudes
Patriarchy, a culture of violence and the fact that PNG is a post-conflict state contribute to a cultural belief that LGBTQIA+ people are 'both pathological and perverse'. However, opinions differ significantly between provinces, religious groups, and rural and urban areas.
'… we face a lot of stigma and discrimination in the churches because of our identities as diverse SOGIESC. We are still discriminated in our religion places, because we come from a Christian background and [being] a transwoman, it’s not acceptable.' – Research participant.
In one study, gay or feminine-presenting men were more likely than other men to be victims of rape by men, which is performed to express heterosexual dominance. Violence by family members against LGBTQIA+ people is also common. Port Moresby is the most impacted place for LGBTQIA+ people. Youth who leave home often move to nearby villages and communities, which are safer for LGBTQIA+ people. However, even in these areas, police and civil society perpetrate crimes with a high degree of impunity.
Health and wellbeing
Papua New Guinea’s health care system is underfunded, overwhelmed and lacks the resources to combat high levels of malaria, tuberculosis, diabetes and other diseases. Access to hospital services is difficult for the 80% of people who live outside urban centres.
Health services for LGBTQIA+ people are limited to HIV/AIDS programs, but the discrimination people living with HIV face limits the effectiveness of campaigns to reduce its spread. Gay men and transgender women are often afraid to get tested out of fear that confidentiality will be breached.
There is no access to mental health and psychosocial services, however some CSOs and community groups hold wellbeing services, which are attended by many LGBTQIA+ people. Sexual education is not commonly taught in schools, and high levels of bullying have caused many LGBTQIA+ youth to leave school.
Media
There is little broadcasting on LGBTQIA+ issues in PNG, and crimes against the queer community go unreported. The reporting that has occurred focuses on the stories of gay men and transgender women.
Facebook is the social media platform of choice for advocacy work and for connecting with community members.
Research and contributions provided by Kris Prasad.
The Pride Guides were developed in 2022 and updated in 2025 by consultants and experts based in countries in which the program operates.
