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.
Only 8 women contest 2016 Vanuatu elections
14th January, 2016
One of only eight women candidates standing in Vanuatu’s snap elections says political parties are making it too difficult for women to participate. In 2012, 10 women contested the election, but none of them was elected to parliament. This year, 183 candidates are standing, with the Electoral Commission expected to release a final list tonight...
Tools offered for boosting Pacific women MP numbers
30th November, 2015
15 November 2015. Candidates’ security around election time is one reason that women in Papua New Guinea are put off running for parliament. The security issue is among a host of barriers contributing to the Pacific region’s lowly rate of women’s political representation. MPs, parliamentary Speakers and senior government officials from 13 Pacific countries have...
Luganville introduces 4 (reserved) seats for women
25th May, 2015
By Harrison Selmen Posted: Monday, May 25, 2015 8:00 am The recently passed amendment of the Municipalities Act to reserve one seat in every ward for women will see Luganville adopting the system for the first time when its constituents go to polls in July this year. According to Dr. Howard Van Trease, a team including himself,Principal Electoral Officer, Charles Vatu, together...
Where are the women in our government? Senator Magdalena Walter shares her experience
18th March, 2015
By Senator Magdalena Walter December 31, 2014 Pohnpei, FSM Last October, at the third FSM Women’s Conference, I was asked to share my experiences as the longest serving female senator, and until recently, the only woman in the Pohnpei State Legislator with the hope that it would inspire other women to take up leadership positions and participate in decision-making for our...
“Come Up With Legislation To Change The Situation”
12th January, 2015
“COME UP WITH LEGISLATION TO CHANGE THE SITUATION:” ‘PRIME MINISTER ‘AKILISI POHIVA [NUKU’ALOFA 08 JANUARY 2015 RADION 89.5FM NEWHEADLINE 7:00AM]: The Tongan Women in Action (TWAC) network currently administered by the Women and Children Crisis Centre (WCCC) welcomes the response of the Prime Minister for women to come up with legislation to change the situation of women’s political representation in parliament. The response from...
What do women and men in Fiji think about women in politics? New insights on where change is happening
19th November, 2014
A new report on Public perceptions of women in leadership, released in Suva on 5 November, provides a window onto changing community attitudes about the role of women in political leadership in Fiji. The research also provides insight into the views that lie behind women’s increased representation in parliament at the recent elections, to 14%, up from 11%...
Fiji’s women speak up in growing numbers inside parliament
30th October, 2014
In a region that has long had the worst representation of women in politics in the world, Fiji’s recent election delivered some good news: one in seven Fijian MPs are women, while the parliament now has its first female Speaker. In one of the best results for women in Fiji’s history since independence in 1970,...
Nikki Rattle re-selected as Speaker of Parliament of Cook Islands
13th October, 2014
Parliamentary Speaker Niki Rattle was chosen on Wednesday October 8th 2014 to return for another term as Speaker of the House, but not before some controversy. Rattle was in the process of being nominated by Prime Minister Henry Puna during the inaugural sitting of the 48thsession of Parliament, when Murienua Member of Parliament James Beer of the Democratic Party raised a point of order,...
Dr Jiko Luveni is Fiji’s first woman Speaker
07th October, 2014
In accordance with the standing orders of parliament, the newly elected Members of Fiji’s Parliament have elected Dr Jiko Luveni as the new Speaker of Parliament. Her election created history for the island nation as Dr Luveni becomes the first woman to control the proceedings of Parliament since Independence in 1970. Dr Luveni was nominated by Member of Parliament Semi Koroilavesauand his nomination...
Accounting for Women (Op-Ed for 2014 National Budget)
02nd October, 2014
Women continue to struggle to break through the barriers of leadership and decision making especially in rural communities. Sometimes a barrier is because they do not have access to basic services. Sometimes it is simply because national policies including the national budget make them invisible despite the commitments to treaties and conventions such as the...
MP Jenny Latu salesa, of Tongan descent, makes it to New Zealand Parliament
23rd September, 2014
MP Jenny Latu Salesa has become the first Tongan to enter New Zealand Parliament following Saturday’s election. The Labour Party MP said she was humbled by the result and would like to thank the voters of Manukau East who have given her their votes. She won the election contest at the electorate by 11,318 votes while the first runner up National’s Kanwal Bakshi has 3,923. Salesa was born and...
How women will help decide who wins Fiji election
18th September, 2014
A feature of Fiji’s 2014 election, the first since the military takeover eight years ago, is that there are more women contesting the poll than the last vote in 2006. This year, out of 249 candidates approved by the Fiji Elections Office, women make up 17 per cent of those on the ballot papers. That’s...