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.
Too few women in Pacific politics: UN
21st September, 2012
The United Nations has again taken aim at the lack of representation for women in Pacific politics. The UN Development Program (UNDP) says women’s presence in parliaments in Pacific Island states is the lowest in the world, lagging even behind Arab countries. A UNDP study just released says economic progress will be limited in the Asia and...
Hon. Cook Islands MP Selina Napa: Sel’s ready and waiting
20th September, 2012
Despite starting her job as Titikaveka MP on August 26, Selina Napa has not formally been inducted yet. It’s been a busy first month for new Titikaveka MP Selina Napa – and she isn’t even an official politician yet. Despite winning the seat after the death of Robert Wigmore in the by-election, Napa had to wait until her brother and opponent Teariki Matenga withdrew a petition seeking a formal...
MP Hon. Vika Lusiabaea sworn in – Solomon Islands
17th September, 2012
Two newly elected MPs for North Malaita Constituency and West Areare took their oaths before the House on Friday the 14th of September, the first session of the fourth meeting of the 9th Parliament. According to s63 of the Constitution no member of Parliament is permitted to take part in the proceedings of Parliament until they have made before Parliament an oath of allegiance. The...
Sandra Pierantozzi for President – Palau
13th September, 2012
A Pacific development expert says a three-way contest in this year’s presidential election in Palau will make it more interesting than usual. The sitting president, Johnson Toribiong, is up against his predecessor and a current senator, Tommy Remengesau Junior, as well as a former vice president, Sandra SumangPierantozzi. As vice president from 2001 to 2005, the first woman to...
Guam US Congresswoman comments on the Palau Compact renewal
12th September, 2012
A Pacific development expert says the delay in the renewal of the 250 million US dollar Compact of Free Association between the United States and Palau does not indicate a change in their relationship. The comment follows a call from Guam’s representative in the US Congress, Madeleine Bordallo, for it to renew the agreement, which was...
A Time for Women: An interview with two of Papua New Guinea’s newest women parliamentarians
11th September, 2012
Posted on August 29 2012 | News – Click here to see the interview. Since Papua New Guinea’s independence in 1975, none of its parliaments have comprised more than 2 per cent of women. Efforts to address traditional attitudes in the country and support women candidates and voters have shown signs of impact, yet the political landscape...
Vanuatu Women target six portfolios: Candidate Maryanne Bani
07th September, 2012
Outspoken women’s leader and independent candidate for Port Vila Constituency, Maryanne Bani, said she would make sure women will hold six ministerial portfolios if they make it into the newly elected Government after the General Elections. Bani said so far she has been approached by two different political parties already requesting her to form a bloc for the...
Equality for women slowly gaining momentum in Pacific
06th September, 2012
The head of UN Women, Michelle Bachelet, says equality for women in the Pacific is slowly gaining movement. Gender equality was a key topic at last week’s Pacific Islands Forum in the Cook Islands. The leaders included a gender equality declaration in their final communique, and Australia announced an unprecedented fund for the region’s women. But Michelle Bachelet said...
Fiji to build first women resource centre in Savusavu
06th September, 2012
Fiji is working to set up the Pacific island nation’s first resource centre for women in Savusavu with support of the Australian government. “This will be the first centre of its kind for rural women in Fiji and I must acknowledge the vision and commitment of the Soqosoqo Vakamarama Cakaudrove, who in collaboration with the Architects without Frontiers from Australia has been working on...
Reference Group on Sexual and Gender based Violence welcomes Gender Declaration
06th September, 2012
The Pacific Islands Forum Reference Group to Address Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) has welcomed the adoption by Pacific Island Forum Leaders of the Pacific Leaders’ Gender Equality Declaration at their 2012 meeting in Rarotonga, Cook Islands. The Reference Group is an independent high-level group of experts established by the Forum Regional Security Committee to guide the...
BRIDGE gender and elections training impacts Solomons YWPG
05th September, 2012
The Young Women’s Parliamentary Group further their knowledge on Gender issues affecting women securing leadership roles after undertaking the three day Bridge Gender and Elections Training provided by UN Women Gender Equality and Political Governance program which ended on Wednesday the 2nd August 2012. The training which focused on gender and elections looked at how electoral issues...
Lieutenant governor, sister of delegate among six candidates vying for American Samoa Governor
05th September, 2012
American Samoa’s lieutenant governor and the sister of the territory’s nonvoting delegate in Congress are among those running for governor. There are six candidates vying to be governor of American Samoa in the 06 November general election, according to a list released over the weekend. American Samoa voters have until Thursday to challenge the eligibility...