Melanesian Spearhead Group Secretariat
Excelling together towards a progressive and prosperous Melanesia
TREATIES
The MSG’s Treaty series contains various agreements agreed to by MSG leaders to provide a legal framework on issues of importance to the sub-region. Listed herewith are the existing legal frameworks.
FRAMEWORK TREATY ON THE PROTECTION OF TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND EXPRESSIONS OF CULTURE
The Treaty was signed by the MSG leaders on the 2nd of September 2011 in Noumea, New Caledonia. The treaty provides the framework to protect traditional knowledge holders and owners against any infringement of their rights as recognised by the Treaty and to ensure stronger closer cooperation and understanding among members of the MSG in relation to traditional knowledge and expressions of culture with the view to promote sustainable development and contribute to the improvement of livelihoods in the MSG.
The Framework Treaty on the Protection of Traditional Knowledge and Expressions of Culture will come into force three months after two States have deposited their instruments of ratification with the MSG Secretariat.
The current status of ratification are as follows;
TREATY ON THE RECIPROCAL ENFORCEMENT OF FOREIGN JUDGEMENTS
The Treaty was signed by the MSG Leaders on the 21st of June 2013. The objective of this Treaty is to create a more coherent legal framework on the Reciprocal Enforcement of Foreign Judgements that will increase costs efficiency and reduce costs, avoiding cross border disputes and ensuring Member countries are confident in other judicial and regulatory institutions of the other members.
The Treaty on the Reciprocal Enforcement of Foreign Judgements will come into force after two parties have signed and deposited their instruments of ratification with the MSG Secretariat.
The current status of ratification are as follows;
TREATY ON CUSTODY AND MAINTENANCE BETWEEN MEMBERS OF THE MELANESIAN SPEARHEAD GROUP
The Treaty was signed by the MSG leaders on 21 June 2013. The objective of the Treaty is to enable an applicant who is a citizen of the Parties to enforce custody, access and or maintenance orders granted by an original court in one Party to the court of another Party based on legal procedures and laws of the State parties.
The current status of ratification are as follows;
AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING THE MSG REGIONAL POLICE ACADEMY (RPA)
This Treaty was signed on the 26th of June 2015 by the MSG Leaders. The objectives of the treaty are to provide a platform for appropriate capacity building for law enforcement personnel in Member countries, to enhance operational interoperability and to provide training for regional and international Peace support operations among others.
The current status of ratification are as follows;
THE FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT FOR THE MELANESIAN SPEARHEAD GROUP FORMED POLICE UNIT (FPU)
The Treaty was signed by the MSG Leaders on the 26th of June 2015. The objective of the Treaty is to strengthen security and police cooperation between member countries to address law and order and security threats in the region through the establishment of the MSG Formed Police Unit (FPU).
The current status of ratification are as follows;
