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.
Violence against women continues to be dire in the Pacific region
30th October, 2013
A budding young female politician in Fiji has received rape threats after deciding to throw her hat in the ring for elections next year. The young woman activist has not been put off standing, but her experience is part of the Pacific region’s dire record on violence against women, a record which remains one of...
Nauru MP says parliaments are not just for men
23rd October, 2013
(23 October 2013, Rarotonga) New Nauru politician Charmaine Scotty is bucking the trend. After being disillusioned with politics in her country, earlier this year Ms Scotty stood for parliament believing there was no reason she couldn’t do a better job than the men. She recently secured a seat in the national assembly, only the second woman to do so since...
The 12th Triennial Conference of Pacific Women
18th October, 2013
The 12th Triennial Conference on Pacific Women The 12th Triennial Conference of Pacific Women will focus on gender equality priorities and critical areas for Pacific nations and undertake review of the implementation of the Revised Pacific Platform for Action (RPPA) on Advancement of Women and Gender Equality 2005-2015, and make recommendations for action for the region and national governments. The areas...
Hon. Tangariki Reete is now 3rd female Cabinet Minister in Kiribati
15th October, 2013
Three new Cabinet Ministers were sworn-into office Monday in Tarawa to replace the two ministers who resigned from office last week. A statement from the Office of the President said the three ministers – RimetaBeniamina, MP from Nikunau, Waysang Kum Kee, MP from Nonouti and Tangariki Reete, MP from Betio took their oath before Chief Justice Sir John Muriain the presence of President Anote Tong, Cabinet Ministers and Secretaries. Beniamina will take...
Changing the Tongan Parliament, one woman at a time
13th September, 2013
By Renee Toy — September 06, 2013 As Australian women prepare to vote in this year’s federal election, many are acutely aware that the numbers of female politicians in our parliaments is far too low. Equal representation is still a long way off, with women filling less than a third of the seats in the House...
Palau Hosts second Mock Congress for women
13th September, 2013
September, 2013 (Koror, Palau) – “I hope that this Mock Congress exercise will give the participating women the confidence to realize their potential as leaders in Palau, and can give them the courage to put up their names and stand for national elections.” These were the encouraging remarks from Senator Uduch Sengebau-Senior, during the Mock Congress for...
Nova Peris becomes first Indigenous woman in Australia’s federal parliament
08th September, 2013
Labor candidate wins Senate seat in Northern Territory, vindicating ‘captain’s pick’ by Julia Gillard. ABC News reports: The Olympic hockey gold medal winner will take a place in the Senate representing the Northern Territory for Labor. She gave her victory speech immediately after Luke Gosling conceded in the Darwin-based Lower House seat of Solomon. Breaking...
Palau: 2nd Mock Congress for women (2-6 Sept. 2013)
05th September, 2013
[Koror, Palau] UNDP and the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat are in Palau this week to work with the Ministry of Community and Cultural Affairs (MCCA) and the ‘Olbiil Era Kelulau‘ (OEK – National Congress) in facilitating the second Mock Congress for eleven Palauan women, most of whom are current elected State Legislators, who are interested to stand for the upcoming State and/or...
Cook Islands PM against affirmative action for women
04th September, 2013
The Prime Minister of the Cook Islands says more women should run for Parliament but need to get there on their own merits. Henry Puna says he strongly encourages women to take up positions of power in Cook Islands communities. But he says he disagrees with others about how women may get to those positions of power....
Tonga Family Protection Bill favoured by full majority
04th September, 2013
[Tongatapu, Nuku’alofa: 04 September 2013] All seventeen members attending Parliament today voted in favour of the Family Protection Bill (2013) during its third reading. PHOTO: The Minister of Internal Affairs Hon. Lord Vaea, Lepolo Taunisila – SPC/RRRT Country Focal Officer, Whole Committee Chair, Sunia Fili and People’s MP Sione Taione, WCCC’s Director – ‘Ofa Guttenbeil Likiliki and WCCC’s staff outside the Parliament, following Whole Committee overwhelming majority in favour of the Bill. “This is an historical moment in Tonga’s parliamentary history,...
2nd Women’s Mock Congress Begins In Palau
04th September, 2013
KOROR, Palau (Island Times, Sept. 4, 2013) – The 2nd Mock Congress for Women in Palau started yesterday with 11 women participants acting as senators. The first day involved participants’ registration. The participants were also given an overview of the Mock Congress for Women. Participating in the Mock Congress are Tiare Holm, Olympia Morei, Elvira Franz, Delilah Lecholch, Blanche Salii, Ush Luii, Lillian Marcil, Ann...
Rights of Persons with Disability must be addressed, says Tonga’s Department of Women’s Affairs
31st August, 2013
The Ministry of Health, supported by the Department of Women’s Affairs (Ministry of Internal Affairs), in partnership with Naunau’o e’Alamaite Tonga Association Incorporated, Tonga Red Cross and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community Regional Rights Resource Team (SPC RRRT) are running a consultation on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability (CRPD) from 31 July to 2...