The Pacific Centre for Judicial Excellence (PCJE) is currently hosting a landmark three-day workshop focused on strengthening regional capacity to manage and report on fraud and corruption cases. The event commenced on 14 May and will conclude on 16 May in Port Moresby.

Supported by the Australian-PNG Law and Justice (APLJ) Program, this specialized training builds on the strong foundation of the Pacific Judicial Integrity Program (PJIP) and in partnership with PNGCJE/PCJE which has advanced court officers capacity-building across the Pacific.

The workshop was opened by the Australian Hich Commission Counsellor for  Law and Justice Ms Tessa Phluekhann who thanked the PNGCJE and PCJE for hosting the workshop and praised the dedication of participants and reaffirmed Australia’s ongoing commitment to regional justice initiatives.

“This workshop is a testament to the strong and enduring partnerships between PNG, Australia, and our Pacific neighbours. Together, we continue to work towards robust legal systems across the region,” said Ms Phluekhan.

The workshop was designed by Registrars from Australia, Assistant Registrars from PNG and tailored to address key aspects of fraud and corruption case management, including ethical practices, evidence handling, data security, and personnel wellbeing. The workshop also emphasizes peer learning and regional collaboration through shared experiences and presentations.

In delivering the opening remarks, Mrs. Stacey Levakia-Wali, Assistant Director of the Papua New Guinea Centre for Judicial Excellence (PNGCJE) and Program Officer for PCJE, welcomed the international participants representing various Pacific Island nations and the 31 participants from the provincial registries.

“The PCJE was established through a Memorandum of Understanding signed by the Chief Justices of 15 Pacific Island Nations: Fiji, Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu in recognizing the need for regional collaboration in comprehensive judicial education and training for Judges/Magistrates/Court Officers and professionals in the Law and Justice Sector.

“This workshop marks a significant step forward in addressing fraud and corruption in the region, and we are proud to lead this effort,” Mrs. Levakia-Wali said.

The workshop serves as an invaluable forum for sharing best practices, experiences, and resources. The aim of which is to enhance the participants skills and broaden their knowledge in managing and reporting on fraud and corruption offences

Mr. Ian Augerea, Registrar of the National and Supreme Court of Papua New Guinea, commended PNGCJE and PCJE for their leadership.

“This workshop is a milestone, as it is the first time PCJE is hosting such an event in PNG. Fraud and corruption are serious threats to society, and building our capacity to address these challenges is vital,” Mr. Augerea said.

He encouraged participants to absorb the knowledge and return to their jurisdictions as change agents, “and ask yourself, ‘What is my role from now onwards in the fight against fraud and corruption?’”

The workshop was coordinated by Ms Arabella Owen, PCJE Program Officer responsible for Court Officer for the Pacific Islands.