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.
New political party formed in Kiribati, chaired by Hon Tessie Lambourne
18th May, 2020
A new political party has been established in Kiribati known as ‘Boutokaan Kiribati Moa’ party (BKM). The party’s newly selected executive members include new MP for Abemama, Tessie Eria Lambourne as Chairperson, Makin MP, Pinto Katia as Vice Chairman, new North Tarawa MP, Terieta Mwemwenikeaki as Secretary, South Tarawa MP, Shiu Fung Jong as Treasurer...
Gov’t and Opposition leaders pay last respects to Vanuatu’s first female MP
16th May, 2020
The Government of the Republic of Vanuatu paid its last respects to the late Mrs. Maria Crowby Tourakot on Friday, 15 May 2020. The late Mrs. Crowby was flown in from New Caledonia to Port Vila, and was received by Gracia Shedrack, Speaker of Parliament. Attending on behalf of the government was Ishmael Kalsakau, Deputy...
Samoa women register party for 2021 election
30th April, 2020
Several women in Samoa have established a political party aiming to compete in the 2021 general election with hopes to change the government. The new party was officially announced by the Electoral Commissioner on Wednesday after its registration. Party leader, (L-R) Fesola’i Logomalieimatagi Tepa Toloa, Electoral Commissioner Faimalomatumua Mathew Lemisio and party secretary Fagalilo Agnes...
Vanuatu National Council for Women wants reserved seats for women
25th April, 2020
Article by Mr Charles Hakwa The Executive Director of the Vanuatu National Council of Women (VNCW), Leias Cullwick, is calling on the Government to enforce laws relating to the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). Mrs Cullwick originally opposed the idea of reserved seats, however she now says it is...
In a global emergency, women are showing how to lead
21st April, 2020
By Zoe Marks, lecturer in public policy at Harvard Kennedy School, where she teaches on gender in global politics. Among the countries that have seen early successes in the fight against the covid-19 pandemic, female leaders stand out. Germany under Angela Merkel boasts one of the lowest fatality rates in the world and is gradually...
Hon Kitlang Kabua newly elected as youngest Marshall Islands MP & Minister
28th February, 2020
Former Australian Water Partnership Young Water Professional (YWP) Kitlang Kabua has been elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) in the Marshall Islands. At 28 years old, Ms Kabua is the youngest MP ever elected to Parliament—or Nitijela, as it is known in the Marshall Islands. She was elected for the first time in the...
Solomon Islands : Third woman elected to Parliament in by-election
17th December, 2019
A third woman MP has been elected in Solomon Islands. Lillian Maefai registered an historic by-election win in the East Makira constituency, becoming the third woman to be elected to the current parliament and setting a new record for women’s representation in the 50 member house. According to results released by the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission,...
Persistence pays: the case of PNG politician Julie Soso
04th December, 2019
Written by Theresa Meki In their systematic analysis of Papua New Guinea (PNG) election data looking at whether women candidates do better when they stand more than once, Terence Wood and Thomas Wangi found that women tend to perform poorly after their first attempt. Their research showed that most of the time, women candidates performed...
Marshalls election results make Heine return unlikely
25th November, 2019
Unofficial election results from the Marshall Islands show that the balance of power has shifted from President Hilda Heine’s government to the opposition. The opposition now appears to have an outright majority of 17, and possibly more as the country awaits the announcement of complete unofficial vote tabulation that starts a two-week clock ticking to...
Atiu by-election win for Hon Te Hani Brown a ‘huge endorsement of the Government’
15th November, 2019
Written by Rashneel Kumar After nearly 18 months of controversy and court battles, a third election win for Te-Hani Brown has strengthened the Government’s majority. Te-Hani Brown registered a landslide victory in the Atiu by-election yesterday.The 24-year-old independent candidate managed 92 votes after the preliminary count, to claim the Tengatangi-Areora-Ngatiarua seat for the third time...
PNG Women leaders told to join Political Parties and Contest Elections
12th November, 2019
The Papua New Guinea Integrity of Political Parties and Candidates is now calling on women leaders to join political parties in preparation for the 2022 national elections to win seats into parliament. While commenting on the non-representation of women in this parliament, Registrar Dr Alphonse Gelu told NBC News that women leaders must become members...
Vanuatu: Call on Govt to Stop Reserve Seats for women proposal
05th November, 2019
Not all ni-Vanuatu women leaders support the call for Members of Parliament to pass a Bill on Temporary Special Measures (TSM) for quotas or reserve seats for 50% Women in Parliament, which will be presented to the Government after a march today. “We, some of the women who are currently affiliated in different political parties do...