News
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.
More women in power is Fiji advocate’s recipe for no coups
13th May, 2013
Pacific Scoop: Report – By Michael Sergel and Finian Scott in Wellington The key to ending decades of coups and political instability in Fiji is to appoint more women to positions of power, says the head of the Fiji National Council of Women. General-secretary Faye Volatabu has turned heads with her statements at a Pacific politics forum meeting in Wellington. She was...
Pacific women political representation not good enough, says Fiame
13th May, 2013
Pacific Scoop: Report – By Michael Sergel and Finian Scott in Wellington Samoan high chief and senior cabinet minister Fiame Naomi Mata’afa says the representation of women in the Pacific is simply not good enough. | She opened speeches at Day 3 of the Pacific Parliamentary and Political Leaders Forum in Wellington today, in a delivery that has set the mood for the...
Outcome Statement: Pacific Parliamentary & Political Leaders Forum,18-22 April 2013
23rd April, 2013
Around 100 Parliamentarians and Political Leaders from 18 Pacific countries and territories, including New Zealand, assembled in Wellington from 18-22 April for the first Pacific Parliamentary and Political Leaders Forum. Regional leadership, democracy, climate change, health issues, gender equality, media and the importance of parliaments to communities, business development and job creation were among the...
‘Women’s political stride towards change’
15th March, 2013
While no women managed to secure a seat in the national election and again in the provincial election, this does not represent a failure on the women part as the high number of women contesting recent elections has set a record for the country. In the national election there were 17 women and in the...
Tonga’s High level commitment to the 57th Commission on the Status of Women
11th March, 2013
A High level commitment to the 57th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), currently meeting at the United Nations in New York, has been shown by the Tonga Government with the head of delegation lead by the Hon. Minister of Internal Affairs, Lord Vaea. The last time a Minister participated in the CSW was thirteen years ago with the...
Hon. Baklai Temengil is Palau’s First Woman Cabinet Minister
06th March, 2013
Ms. Baklai Temengil, the first woman cabinet member for the 9th constitutional government has officially taken her oath of office. Minister Temengil swore in on Thursday February 21, 2013 at the old Olbiil Era Kelulau to head the Ministry of Community and Cultural Affairs becoming President Remengesau’s second cabinet appointment to take office. President Remengesau’s welcomed Ms. Temengil to Cabinet in his speech: “Having Baklai to be the Minister of Community and Cultural...
Women striving for political office in the Pacific region: Fiame Naomi Mata’afa
01st March, 2013
SYDNEY, Feb 28 2013 (IPS) – Women face greater odds in achieving equal political representation in the Pacific Islands than in any other region of the world, holding just 3 percent of seats in national parliaments, compared to 20 percent in Sub-Saharan Africa and 18.5 percent in South East Asia. Following the first Pacific Women’s...
Pacific Women’s Parliamentary Partnerships Forum Outcomes Statement
23rd February, 2013
Women members of Pacific Parliaments met in Sydney, Australia from 9-10 February 2013 to forge friendships and build a new path forward in addressing gender equality. The forum followed the Gender Equality Declaration, agreed at the Pacific Island Leaders’ Forum in August 2012 in Rarotonga, Cook Islands. The forum participants and contributors included Presiding Officers, Deputy Presiding Officers,...
Newest Cook Islands MP Ms. Tetangi Matapo sworn into Parliament
19th February, 2013
The country’s newest member of parliament was sworn in by ceremony yesterday afternoon. Tetangi Matapo, the Democratic Party member for Tamarua, gave her maiden speech to a packed House and public gallery. “This is a very honourable position bestowed upon me, and I thank the Lord for that.” She also thanked the Cook Islands people, in particular those from Mangaia,...
Vanuatu Provincial Elections Preliminary Results: No Woman Elected
19th February, 2013
[Mr. Avio Roberts, Vanua’aku Pati (VP) Program & Information Officer says women candidates for provincial council elections are commanding more confidence from both men and women voters – citing what he views to be healthy vote totals for women in several constituencies. With no women actually elected, however, the actual representation of women in decision-making roles on the provincial councils...
New Cooks MP for Tamarua, Ms. Tetangi Matapo, to be sworn in today
18th February, 2013
The swearing in ceremony of newly elected Member of Parliament for Tamarua – Tetangi Matapo, will be held on Monday 18th February. Clerk of Parliament, Tupuna Rakanui said that Parliament will need to ensure that the 7-day petition period is adhered too. The 7-day period ended February 7th, and as no lodges were made against Matapo she was flown to Rarotonga on the Friday the 15th. Only two votes separated...
New MP to be sworn in Monday
15th February, 2013
COOK ISLANDS NEWS — Members of parliament came together for the first time this year when the House reconvened at 1pm yesterday afternoon. The 9th meeting of the 47th session of parliament is scheduled for 11 days this month, with members sitting every working day – with the exception of today – until February 28 unless all business finishes before then....