A/HRC/18/18 8. It was then highlighted that a rigorous consultation process had been undertaken with stakeholders throughout the country, which included: Government departments and agencies, non-governmental organizations, churches, civil society, academia, community leaders, youth representatives and other relevant stakeholders. The Taskforce had organized four regional consultations, which had engaged stakeholders at the provincial, district and local levels. The consultation undertaken had been open, transparent and inclusive. 9. Papua New Guinea declared that, like other countries, it was faced with human rights issues and challenges. It considered that most of those challenges could be attributed, inter alia, to the country’s current stage of development; cultural diversity, which although not an excuse was a very distinct feature of the country; lack of basic health-care, education and other services; and inaccessibility to government services. 10. Papua New Guinea stated further that while it agreed that Governments must take ownership and provide leadership in addressing human rights issues, one of the most effective ways to accomplish that was to work with the United Nations, the donor community, the private sector and civil society stakeholders 11. Papua New Guinea then explained that it considered the UPR process and the presentation of its report to the Human Rights Council as part of its efforts to garner the collective support of the international community to address human rights issues in the country. It added that the recent visit of the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment signalled the country’s willingness to be open and frank in dealing with the challenges it faced. 12. Papua New Guinea affirmed that its National Constitution accorded all persons living in the country the basic rights and freedoms espoused by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It noted that the country had ratified most United Nations human rights conventions. It explained that the delay in ratification of certain instruments should be attributed to the country’s lack of resources and capacity constraints. 13. It was added that the country had put in place the necessary laws and institutional mechanisms to address human rights issues, but that it was experiencing an increase in human rights challenges, such as sorcery-related killings and the use of affordable mobile telephones services and access to Internet to commit human rights violations. Papua New Guinea recognized the need to review existing laws to address those fast-evolving phenomena. 14. It was then highlighted that the country had put in place relevant laws to deal with issues such as domestic and sexual violence and child and youth protection. Relevant institutions were being set up to address human rights issues and complement ongoing work. The ongoing process to establish a national human rights commission was given as an example and it was affirmed that, with all aspects of structure, finance and other aspects resolved, the commission should begin to operate in 2012. 15. It was stated, moreover, that other critical challenges to be addressed included improvements in correctional services and rehabilitation, the empowerment of women in politics and business, gender equality, lack of an appropriate legal framework, lack of capacity, access to legal and justice services, lack of basic services, health- and educationrelated issues, infrastructural developments, HIV/AIDS, climate change and cultural diversity. 16. Papua New Guinea stated further that the current economic situation would change significantly due to the development of the multibillion-dollar liquefied natural gas project in the country. Aided by that important economic project, the country would experience unprecedented economic growth and development and, by 2020, the projected gross domestic product would be about US$ 24 billion. 4