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.
How adversarial politics is putting women off in the Pacific
16th June, 2014
What’s holding back female leadership and representation in the Pacific? This was the discussion point when Pacific female MPs, along with women in other political leadership roles in the region, gathered recently in Fiji. And what emerged was that one of the key barriers to women entering politics is the adversarial nature of politics. Given...
Fiji’s Adi Sivia Qoro calls for more support to women
09th June, 2014
AN aspiring politician is seeking much stronger support from men for women in politics who need protection from anti-feminist attacks. While she has personally received only respect from the community, Adi Sivia Qoro wants support for women who are in politics. The founding member of the People’s Democratic Party said the abuse already allegedly inflicted on some women candidates...
Women in Political leadership welcomed
09th June, 2014
Fiji’s National Federation Party president Tupou Draunidalo says it is encouraging to see more Fijian women in leadership position ahead of the September 17 election. She says it gives women confidence and it is a positive development for all Fijian women. “It’s a very good thing for all Fijian women,” she said. “It gives them incentive and confidence...
Fiji’s Action plan for Women making progress
09th June, 2014
The ‘Women’s Plan of Action’ has contributed positively towards women representation at all levels of decision making in Fiji’s rural communities. Designed to develop the potential of women around the country in areas related to social, political and economic growth, the ‘Women’s Plan of Action’ or WPA is producing results. The Minister for Women Dr Jiko Luvenisaid WPA has five areas...
Australia’s Julie Bishop and Natasha Stott Despoja discuss women’s empowerment
06th June, 2014
A group of 11 journalists from Pacific Island countries met Australian politicians and business leaders last month as part of a professional development program. The Asia Pacific Journalism Centre hosted the program and focused on news media and the role of women in the economy. Australia Awards fellows studying journalism met with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon Julie Bishop and...
PNG names woman candidate for top Pacific post
04th June, 2014
High flying Papua New Guinea woman, Dame Meg Taylor, is the country’s nominee for the post Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Secretariat. Prime Minister Peter O’Neill said Dame Meg had a wealth of experience and knowledge that spanned 20 years in active service to the Government of Papua New Guinea. Her father...
Fiji NGO women leaders discuss about gender injustice, NCDs and political upheaval
28th May, 2014
NGO Women leaders attended a two day forum in Suva on 22-23 April, to discuss the role of women in relation to ‘Rethinking Development, Reshaping the Pacific We Want – Beyond 2015′. The discussions centred on how to progress the re-thinking agenda and influence the Post 2015 development goals after the expiry of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)...
More women is the key to cutting corruption, says Australian MP
27th May, 2014
IN THIS heady age of grimy corruption revelations, thanks to the ICACmerry-go-round, it’s good to know there’s a simple answer to end corruption in politics. That is, to get more women elected Australia-wide, according to Lennox Head-based NSW Upper House MP Catherine Cusack. Ms Cusack has just been elected to chair the Commonwealth Women’s Parliamentary Steering...
Cook Islands’ July 2014 snap election has left potential women candidates behind
22nd May, 2014
A regional women’s organisation says the hurried timing of the elections in Cook Islands has left potential women candidates behind. Last month, Prime Minister Henry Puna called a snap election amid opposition claims he was to lose a vote of no confidence in parliament. Cook Islanders will go to the polls on July 9 and registrations have now closed. Alexis...
Australia has gone backwards on women in politics: MP Katy Gallagher
02nd May, 2014
Chief Minister Katy Gallagher says Australia has gone backwards on female participation at the highest levels of politics and decried the perception that leadership is a man’s game. Addressing the annual YWCA breakfast on Tuesday, Ms Gallagher said the lack of senior women in politics around the country was unsatisfactory and that a period in...
Disappointment at low number of women elected in Niue
16th April, 2014
A former MP in Niue says it’s disappointing the general elections saw no increase in the number of elected women to parliament. The top two pollers in the common roll, Stanley Kalauni, and Toke Talagi, the premier since 2008, are continuing to lobby for support to determine who will become the next Premier. Former MP Esther Pavihi,...
UN Vanuatu to ecourage more women into political leadership
11th April, 2014
A United Nations advocate says Vanuatu women have one of the lowest levels of participation in political leadership. Dr Rosina Wiltshire visited Port Vila recently to run a workshop and told our correspondent Hilaire Bule that women’s rights are still not fully recognised in Vanuatu. ROSINA WILTSHIRE: This workshop is designed to strengthen women’s participation in political leadership and build their capacity to...