Papua New Guinea's Justice Minister says the government can always readjust its position on the death penalty if it doesn't prove to be effective.
Kerenga Kua says the execution of thirteen people currently on death row will happen after an appropriate method of execution has been found and a facility built later this year.
Mr Kua says there has been vocal opposition to the plans from human rights groups, but nothing else has helped address the country's high rates of violence.
"As I have always said, nothing is cast in concrete and we can always adjust our position down the track after we see how effective or ineffective this process is. But we've got to be given the opportunity to try it out."
Kerenga Kua says the thirteen people currently sitting on death row have committed horrendous crimes.
They include one who slaughtered his family in a premeditated attack.
