"These obstacles can be defeated": UN Women Support for Increased Representation in Politics

As the country prepares for the 2022 national election, over 50 women leaders from across the Momase region met in Lae to discuss the status of women’s political participation in Papua New Guinea (PNG). The workshop provided a platform for experience sharing and learning on how to affect positive change through advocacy.

The three-day regional women’s advocacy and coalition building workshop was officially opened by the Australian Consul-General Mark Fox. The event was organized by UN Women in partnership with the Department for Community Development and Religion, under the Women Make the Change programme.

The women leaders raised concern over the absence of women in Papua New Guinea’s national Parliament. PNG is one of only four countries in the world without any women in the national Parliament.

The participants cited social, cultural, and economic barriers limiting women’s participation in leadership, both as voters and as candidates.

During the workshop, women leaders had an opportunity to hear from researchers, public servants and politicians who have played a role in trying to pass legislation to increase women’s representation in the National Parliament over the past few decades.

Dame Carol Kidu, who retired from the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea after 15 years in politics, shared her experience as a former legislator, Minister, and Leader of the opposition. She observed the need for Government and other institutional leaders to come up with deliberate measures to increase women’s representation in the national Parliament. She noted that some countries have seats reserved specifically for women.

“Whether through policy reforms or women’s movement, efforts must be geared towards ensuring that women get into parliament come 2022,” said Dame Carol.

Dame Carol added “Do not shy away from these leadership positions. Even if you did not go through in the past elections, don’t be downhearted. I encourage you to keep going; Come 2022, contest for the Parliamentary seat.”

Director of the Policy and Legal Division in the Integrity of Political Parties and Candidates Commission (IPPCC), Mr. Emmanuel Pok expressed worry over the downward trend in female representation in the national Parliament. He encouraged women leaders to join political parties for endorsement and support if they wish to run for election in 2022.

Ms. Ennie Moaitz, the first female Premier of Morobe, urged women to work together to advance women’s political participation and representation.

“There are always obstacles in the path to leadership, but these can be defeated. It is upon us, as women of this country, to push for the change we want. And the time is now,” Ms. Moaitz, said.

Ms. Moaitz called on young women to spearhead efforts to change the status quo by advocating for legal and policy reforms promoting gender balance throughout the electoral cycle.

Although, the Constitution of Papua New Guinea recognizes women’s right to participate in all forms of nation building, less than 10 women have been elected to the national Parliament since independence in 1975. 

Ms. Carol Mayo, a participant from West Sepik shared her reflections on the three days workshop, “It brought unity to the women, I can see the cooperation and we learned so much…We built relationships with other women who want to contest.”

“I am supportive of the five reserved seats for women, though many of us will also contest the open and provincial seats,” said Finkewe Zurecnuoc, a participant from Morobe. “The workshop provided an excellent platform that we, Momase women, will embrace. This will help us go a long way and I am sure this will facilitate more women into Parliament. I’m very happy to be part of the Momase women’s coalition,” she added

 “The workshop was very empowering, it got us some way forward and shared some of the measures we can take to help women from our respective provinces,” said Veronica Simogun from East Sepik. “I’m going to get back and round up the people I’m working with to share how to network and empower women, finding a way forward for Momase people,”she added

Women Make the Change is a 4-year programme, led by UN Women in partnership with the Government of Papua New Guinea, the Autonomous Bougainville Government and UNDP, focused on supporting women’s political participation. The programme is funded by the Governments of Australia and New Zealand.