Women to Discuss Gender Equality in Parliament

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20th July, 2014

The Legislative Assembly of Tonga is hosting the second Pacific Women’s Parliamentary Partnerships Forum (PWPPF) in Nuku’alofa from today until Monday.

The events are being held at the Scenic Hotel in Fua’amotu and the Fa‘onelua Convention Centre here in Nuku’alofa.

The three day event, funded by the Australian Agency for International Development (Australian Aid), is aimed to tackle the problem of fewer female representation in politics in the Pacific, Tonga included.

The PWPPF is an annual event coordinated by the Parliament of Australia and funded by the Pacific Women’s Parliamentary Partnerships Project, under the financial support of the Australian Aid.

The forum has the core objective of building and sustaining the networks of women in Parliament in the region and to gain a momentum of highlighting the role of women as key decision makers in their respective parliaments.

PWPPF is under the Pacific Women Shaping Pacific Development Initiative and aims to improve understanding of the factors that constrain women’s political participation. It is also to build the capacity of female MPs in the Pacific, their work place and the staff who support them in their endeavors.

Tonga’s first female politician, Her Royal Highness Princess Mele Siu’ilikutapu Kalaniuvalu-Fotofili will deliver the opening keynote address at the opening, scheduled for Faonelua Convention Centre at 8.30am on Saturday.

Australia’s Ambassador for Women and Girls, Natasha Stott Despoja, is also here in Nuku’alofa to host a dialogue for Pacific women political leaders and policy makers in the Pacific.

Source: Tonga Daily News

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