Prime Minister James Marape has unveiled plans to end polygamy in Papua New Guinea, saying the policy is aimed at promoting gender equality and protecting women and children. Marape told parliament that a policy paper outlining the proposal will soon be presented to the National Executive Council, setting in motion consultations and a legislative process that could see a ban on future polygamous unions introduced in the coming years.
Under the proposal described by Marape, existing polygamous marriages would continue to be recognised, but new marriages involving multiple spouses would be prohibited once the law takes effect. No firm timetable was given for adoption, but Marape suggested the policy might be phased in around 2030 to allow for wide-ranging consultations and community awareness work. He said the government wanted to give churches, legal experts and traditional leaders time to engage with the changes before legislation is brought to parliament.
Marape framed the move as part of efforts to strengthen families and ensure women and children receive “the respect and support they deserve.” He told lawmakers that some customary practices should be preserved while those that harm families should be abandoned. “Our laws must ensure that women and children are protected and that family responsibilities are respected,” he said, warning that polygamy can often lead to unstable homes and leave many women and children without adequate care.
The proposal acknowledges the deep cultural and logistical challenges such a reform entails in a nation of more than 10 million people spanning roughly 8,000 tribes and hundreds of languages. Marape did not spell out enforcement mechanisms, and he conceded the complexity of imposing a national legal standard across remote and diverse communities. That admission underlines one of the key hurdles facing any future bill: how to reconcile national legislation with customary law and customary marriage practices entrenched in many parts of the country.
The government’s stated plan to consult churches, customary leaders and legal authorities signals an attempt to build consensus ahead of formal legislative change. Religious institutions and traditional authority structures play influential roles in many communities across Papua New Guinea, and their buy-in will likely be pivotal if the policy is to move beyond a declaration of intent to effective law.
The announcement marks the latest development in a sensitive social policy debate that touches on gender equality, customary practice and family welfare. By proposing to grandfather existing polygamous relationships while banning future ones, the government is signalling a gradual approach intended to limit social disruption while changing the legal landscape for coming generations. The next concrete step will be the submission of the policy paper to the National Executive Council; if it wins approval there, ministers will face the task of drafting legislation and carrying out the promised consultations ahead of any parliamentary vote.
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