Papua New Guinea's National Refugee Policy outlines 5 key policy principles that guide Papua New Guinea’s approach to managing refugee issues into the future and meeting its international obligations under the 1951 Convention on the Status of Refugees and related 1967 Protocol. These are:
- Papua New Guinea recognises the rights of refugees in accordance with its commitments under the 1951 Convention on the Status of Refugees and related 1967 Protocol,and the Principles of this National Refugee Policy, and incorporates these within national legislation.
- Papua New Guinea is committed to working with other countries and international organisations to provide protection to refugees and combat people smuggling, trafficking in persons and related transnational crime.
- Papua New Guinea may enter into arrangements with other countries or international organisations for processing asylum seekers’ claims and where appropriate settlement of refugees.
- Papua New Guinea embraces the skills and qualities of refugees, supports them to become self-sufficient and offers them the opportunity to become citizens.
- Papua New Guinea contributes to global refugee support efforts and targets for international resettlement refugees with appropriate skills required by PNG for national development.