This page collects stories on developments throughout the Pacific in promoting women in politics. Because many news sites in the Pacific archive their stories after a period of time, we have replicated the stories in full on this page, to keep an archive on efforts and article in the region. We thank all Pacific news colleagues for their contributions in sharing stories on women in politics. If you have a story we have missed, please send it to the PacWIP team on pacwip@gmail.com.
Niue forms women’s Parliamentary group
16th October, 2018
On 12 & 13 September 2018, Niue’s women MPs held a workshop, opened by the Acting Premier and with the support of UNDP’s Australian-funded Regional Women in Politics Programme, to form a women’s parliamentary group. With five women MPs, out of a total of 20 seats, Niue has 25% female representation – the highest in...
Dearth of women candidates for Fiji election
10th October, 2018
Fewer than one in five of the provisional election candidates nominated by Fiji’s three major political parties are women. FijiFirst, SODELPA and the National Federation Party (NFP) have now revealed their full list of nominees for the polls next month. The three parties have nominated 28 women candidates between them for the 51 seats –...
Vanuatu: Tanna Women think and work politically on issue of Climate change and Disaster reduction
04th October, 2018
Women on Tanna respond to lack of political will on climate change By Lisa Cornish. 03 October 2018. The Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting, held in Nauru Sept. 3-6, was meant to produce concrete plans for supporting Pacific Island nations in their battle against climate change. Instead, reports suggest it was a stalemate for climate action. The...
Fiji: Activist Applauds Women In Politics
03rd October, 2018
Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre Co-ordinator Shamima Ali is encouraging Fijian voters to vote female candidates into government for greater awareness of women’s perspective in issues debated in Parliament. Responding to the line-up of 11 women candidates announced on Wednesday by the FijiFirst Party and other parties Ms Ali said it was something to be celebrated....
Fiji: Analysis: Women Bolster Party’s Support In Ba Electorate
03rd October, 2018
The inclusion of three women with roots in Ba has boosted FijiFirst’s bid to firmly secure this male-dominated community. Their naming as provisional candidates was a strategic move to give the party a new dimension in the changing dynamics of the 2018 General Election. Former senior education officer Ivamere Rokoduna Saunaqali, and business entrepreneur Lisi...
Solomon Islands women encouraged to take up politics
02nd July, 2018
A practice parliament workshop was held in Solomon Islands on 11 – 15 June 2018 in an effort to encourage more women to participate in politics. The United Nations Development Programme says the percentage of women in Pacific parliaments currently hovers around 7 per cent and it is hoping the sessions will encourage those thinking...
MP Lanelle Tanangada secures historic by-election win in Solomon Islands
25th May, 2018
Lanelle Tanangada has secured an historic by-election victory in Solomon Islands, becoming the first ever woman MP for Western province and defeating a former prime minister in the process. Mrs Tanangada polled more than 50 percent in the Gizo Kolombangara constituency beating runner up candidate and former prime minister Gordon Darcy Lilo by more than...
Vanuatu: Enact 50% quota for Women in Parliament
22nd May, 2018
Women leaders from throughout Vanuatu have petitioned the Government of Vanuatu to enact a 50% quota for women’s equal representation in Parliament. The petition was handed to the Acting Prime Minister, Jean-Pierre Nirua, at Saralana Park yesterday, during the official segment of the celebration by Acting President of the Vanuatu National Council of Women (VNCW), Mrs....
Cook Islands: Election candidate numbers increase by six
09th May, 2018
The number of candidates contesting the General Election in June 2018, has increased by six over the number who vied for seats in the 2014 elections. This represents a rise of just over 10 per cent. In the June 14 polls, 58 candidates from the governing Cook Islands Party (CIP), Democratic Party, One Cook Islands (OCI), Independent,...
Cook Islands: Rose Brown to stand as Independent candidate for Atiu in 2018 elections
01st May, 2018
Cook Islands Party MP Rose Brown has announced that she will be standing as an independent candidate for the Atiu electorate of Teenui-Mapumai. Brown, who was elected as the CIP candidate for Teenui-Mapumai in 2014 and later became the Cook Islands’ first female opposition leader in 2016 before returning to her party in 2017, says...
Fiji: Call for equality
11th April, 2018
By Vilimaina Naqelevuki. WOMEN need an equal seat not only in Parliament but also in local governments, including town municipal councils as well as district and provincial councils. These were the sentiments shared by the executive di rector of femLINKPacific Sharon Bhagwan-Rolls as the country prepares for the 2018 General Election. Ms Bhagwan-Rolls said including...
Fiji: Sabha supports women in politics
11th April, 2018
By Vishaal Kumar. WOMEN should be given equal opportunity as men in politics so they have a say and are able to make decisions which will affect not only them but also the entire country. These were the sentiments shared by the national president of Shree Sanatan Dharm Pratinidhi Sabha Fiji, Sarju Prasad, on the...