Local Govt Women

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In the Pacific, available statistics show that although female participation at local government levels occur, the numbers clearly show that more work on encouraging female representation through institutional means at least is needed. The Commonwealth Local Government Forum Pacific team in the Pacific is one of the leading organisations in the region supports efforts on promoting women’s leadership at local government level. CLGF support the Pacific Women in Local Government Network. The statistics in the table below remain incomplete. If you can provide more information about women’s participation in sub-national governments in any Pacific Island country, please contact us at pacwip@gmail.com.

Country
Women Elected Representatives
Women Chairs
Elected Reps Total (#)
Total Elected
Women (#)
Elected Women (%)
Chairs/Heads 
Total (#)
Women Chairs/Heads  (#)
Women Chairs/Heads (%) 
Cook Islands:
10 Outer Island Local Governments
 
48
 
3
 
6.3%
 
 
   
Fiji*
Provincial Councils
District Councils

-

-

-
     
FSM
4 State Governments
85 1 1.2%  4 Governors 0  
Kiribati:
20 Island Councils
3 Urban Councils 
199
31
7
0
3.5%
0.0%

 

 

 
Marshall Islands
14 Village Councils
63 23 36.5%      
Nauru
14 Village Councils
63 23 36.5%      
Niue
14 Village Councils
63 23 36.5%      
Palau
16 State Governments
      16 Governors 4 25%
PNG**
National Capital District Council
21 Provincial Assemblies
40 Urban LLGs
275 Rural LLGs
           
Samoa
286 Village Councils
           
Solomon Islands:
Honiara City Council
9 Provincial Councils
19
39
0
5
0
12.8
 
 
 
 
 
 
Tonga:
Town and District Offices
167 1 0.6      
Tuvalu:
8 Kaupule Councils
48 2 4.2      
Vanuatu:***
2 Municipalities
6 Provinces
26
99
2
0
7.7
0
   
 
 
 
* elected local councils suspended and then replaced by appointments from 2006 to present
** supposed to elect one woman to each Provincial Council (21 Provinces + NCD)
*** Local governments suspended as of 9 March 2012

Source: UNDP, UNWomen, CLGF & UCLG (2011) 'Women’s Representation in Local Government in Asia Pacific Status – Report 2010'