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.
Five reserved seats for women in PNG Parliament ‘a good start’
29th April, 2021
Advocates for increased female political representation in Papua New Guinea have welcomed the PNG Government’s endorsement of five reserved seats for women in Parliament. Politicians, including PNG’s Attorney General Dr Eric Kawa, announced their support for the reforms this week. A bill has not been introduced into Parliament and details of the legislation have not...
Women exceed parliamentary quota in Samoa
13th April, 2021
[By Lanuola Tusani Tupufia – Ah Tong, 10/04/2021] A statutory mandate ensuring a 10 per cent quota for women in Parliament will not need to be activated after Friday’s election after five women were elected to the XVII Parliament. The quota system is designed to increase women’s political participation and reserves five seats in the...
Women Leaders Speak Out on Violence Against Women in Politics in the Pacific Islands
31st March, 2021
[March 31, 2021] – Countries in the Pacific Islands have some of the lowest rates of women’s political participation and highest levels of gender-based violence in the world. Historically, women have been excluded from political structures and processes, which are dominated by patriarchal and traditional tribal norms. While the political environment is changing in Fiji,...
Private sector progress in women’s leadership in the Pacific
10th March, 2021
[By Sarah Boxall] – The UN theme for International Women’s Day 2021 is “Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world” – a celebration of global progress towards women’s equal representation in leadership positions. For the Pacific, discussion of women’s leadership has focused on women’s political representation, which at just 7% is...
Palau Women’s Int’l Day celebrates women in leadership
09th March, 2021
[By Leilani Reklai] – In a COVID world, women around the world are faced with much greater difficulties than ever before such as increased domestic violence, greater economic displacement, and marginalization overall. Palau women commemorated the Women’s International Day focusing on Women in Leadership and “Inclusive Palau During COVID-19 and Beyond”. While Palau is COVID...
Samoa: Women candidates mixed views on entering Parliament through quota system
01st March, 2021
There are mixed opinions expressed by six Samoan women candidates for the upcoming general election on women entering Parliament on their own merits or by the existing 10 percent quota.
Palau President-elect chooses first-ever woman chief of staff, Ms Landisang Kotaro
12th January, 2021
By Bernadette Carreon – House Speaker Sabino Anastacio announced during a session yesterday that President-elect Surangel Whipps Jr. has named Landisang Kotaro to be his Chief of Staff. The announcement will make Ms. Kotaro- the current head of President-elect’s Transition Committee Secretariat- as the first woman to hold that position. “I would like to announce...
Solomons MP Hon Lanelle Tanangada defends ‘women in politics’
08th December, 2020
[By Eddie Osifelo] – MINISTER of Education and Human Resources, Lanelle Tanangada used her motion of sine die speech in parliament to defend “women in politics”. This was after Solomon Star has published an article on Tuesday, November 24 by Alfred Sasako and titled “From A Simple Housewife to Parliament”. The author was referring to...
Training Offered to Women Candidates of 2021 Samoa General Elections
02nd December, 2020
In the chaos of COVID-19 in the world today, Samoa is not letting this affect or hinder its preparations for the upcoming General Election in 2021. Since the closing of candidate’s nomination on the 23rd October 2020, 23 women registered and were accepted by the Office of the Electoral Commissioner. In its efforts to promote...
Solutions proposed to enhance gender equality in elections
30th November, 2020
Source: https://www.looppng.com/png-news/solutions-proposed-enhance-gender-equality-elections-96014#disqus_thread
From a simple housewife to Solomons Parliament: Hon Ethel Lency Vokia
25th November, 2020
[By Alfred Sasako] The meteoric rise of Mrs. Ethel Lency Vokia – a simple housewife to Parliament – is a story of considerable achievement. The Solomon Star caught up with her when her constituents from three Communities took delivery of three ray boats, each powered by a 30-hp Suzuki engine in Honiara this week. “From...
Vice-President- Elect Senior becomes second woman Vice President of Palau
13th November, 2020
[By by Bernadette Carreon]: Sen. J.Uduch Sengebau Senior will become the second woman in Palau’s history to assume the position of vice-president. Following the tabulation of all the votes in Palau, including the absentee ballots this week, Sen. Senior garnered 5,112 compared to her opponent Sen. Frank Kyota who got 4,671 votes. Vice President-elect Senior...