about the virus and the vaccine programme 1. “Palestine: Investigation into death in custody of Palestinian activist through languages and formats that were must be transparent, effective”, 24 June accessible to all segments of the population. 2. “Palestinian security forces escalate brutal campaign of repression”, Healthcare workers were attacked by 7 July members of the public and also remained at high risk of contracting Covid-19. In October PAPUA NEW in the city of Lae, health workers who were administering Covid-19 and polio vaccines GUINEA had rocks thrown at them.1 GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE Independent State of Papua New Guinea The police failed to adequately protect Head of state: Elizabeth II, represented by Robert women from violence in the home and in the Dadae community. Violent attacks against women Head of government: James Marape accused of sorcery were reported throughout the year. In one case in March, a woman and Lack of capacity in the healthcare system her 19-year-old daughter were physically and insufficient information about assaulted and thrown off a bridge by vaccination programmes limited people’s community members in Goroka after being access to adequate healthcare. Gender- accused of sorcery following the death of the based violence remained pervasive, woman’s husband from Covid-19. Local including in the context of a growing human rights organizations reported that number of violent attacks against women sorcery-related violence and domestic following accusations of sorcery. violence increased in the context of the Development and environmental destruction pandemic. negatively impacted the lives and A Special Parliamentary Committee on livelihoods of Indigenous peoples. Gender-based Violence established in 2020 Continued intercommunal violence killed commenced hearings in May, with further dozens of people. Incidents of arbitrary hearings postponed until 2022. arrests and police brutality occurred. In June, male students at the University of BACKGROUND Papua New Guinea disrupted a protest by female students and staff against allegations The government and Bougainville leaders of widespread sexual harassment at the reached an agreement on the timetable to university. Journalists covering the event were finalize the terms of secession of Bougainville also attacked, but no serious injuries were from Papua New Guinea following the 2019 reported. independence referendum. Under the agreement, Bougainville will assume INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ RIGHTS independent sovereign powers by 2027. In January, Indigenous people in New Ireland RIGHT TO HEALTH province staged a sit-in protest after the government failed to pay agreed In October, following a renewed surge in compensation for the development of Covid-19 infections, hospitals in at least three Kavieng Airport on their lands. provinces reported shortages of medical In July, the Indigenous people known as supplies and healthcare workers. “shark callers”, also from New Ireland Less than 3% of the population were fully province, held a cultural festival to protest vaccinated against Covid-19 by the end of against the impacts of deep-sea mining for the year. Authorities failed to effectively minerals and metals on their livelihoods and combat widespread vaccine hesitancy, or to culture. The government declined to join the provide accurate and timely information increasing number of states, NGOs and civil Amnesty International Report 2021/22 293