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.
Solomon Islands election candidate Rhoda Sikilabu says women want change
26th August, 2013
A Solomon Islands politician says women in her country are fed up with not benefitting from any of the money that passes through the hands of her male counterparts. Rhoda Sikilabu is a former deputy premier of Isabel province and now a provincial assembly member who is standing in next year’s general election. She has just completed an exchange...
Pacific speakers mull barriers facing female candidates
01st August, 2013
Speakers from Pacific Island nations discussed the barriers facing female political hopefuls in the region while at a conference in Canberra. The recent 44th Presiding Officers and Clerks Conference saw representatives from Australia and the Pacific gather for the week-long conference, which focuses on developments in parliamentary administration and procedure. The Pacific has the lowest representation of...
Act to reserve seats for women passed by Samoan Parliament
25th June, 2013
The Legislative Assembly of the Samoan Parliament has voted unanimously in support of a bill to amend the Constitution to reserve five seats or 10 per cent of the 49 parliamentary seats for women electoral candidates. The Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, La’auliLeuatea Fosi, has called it ‘a new dawn for women’. The Constitution Amendment Act 2013 was passed by the...
Samoa celebrates 5 seats reserved for women in next Parliament
25th June, 2013
From the next general elections at least five seats in Samoan Parliament will be occupied by women, following the passage of the Constitution Amendment Bill 2013 this morning [June 23] made that law. “It’s a new dawn for women,” Speaker of Parliament, La’auli Leuatea Fosi said. An outbreak of clapping by MPs greeted passage of the bill. None of...
Media release: Nauru President names his Cabinet
13th June, 2013
REPUBLIC OF NAURU Government Information Office MEDIA RELEASE For Immediate Release 13 June, 2013 President Waqa names his cabinet His Excellency President Baron Waqa announced his cabinet line-up at the first sitting of the 21st parliament this morning (13 June) which includes two of the newly elected members of parliament (MP). President Waqa will hold the portfolios of Chairman of the Cabinet, Minister for...
Nauru’s first female MP in nearly 30 years promptly appointed to Cabinet
13th June, 2013
His Excellency President Baron Waqa announced his cabinet line-up at the first sitting of the 21st parliament this morning (13 June) which includes two of the newly elected members of parliament (MP). President Waqa will hold the portfolios of Chairman of the Cabinet, Minister for the Public Service, Foreign Affairs & Trade, Climate Change, Police & Emergency Services. Hon David Adeang is Minister...
Ms Charmaine Eraidinomo Scotty elected in Nauru’s Yaren Constituency!
09th June, 2013
A new member for the Yaren District has been elected, Charmaine EraidinomoScotty. An historic achievement in Nauru for the representation of women in parliament, Ms Scotty is only the second woman to ever be elected to NauruParliament. Ruby Thoma was the first woman elected to the Nauru Parliament, and was elected four times in the 1980s and 1990s. Charmaine Eraidinomo Scotty was a permanent secretary in the public service before campaigning...
Confidence Tonga Family Protection Bill will pass soon
05th June, 2013
Supporters of a bill to protect families in Tonga are confident it will soon be passed by lawmakers. The Tonga Family Protection Bill is expected to be discussed in this month’s session of parliament. Beverley Tse has more: The bill was introduced two years ago with the aim of combatting domestic violence and protecting all members of a household....
Vanuatu Cabinet takes positive stance on women’s seats
04th June, 2013
The Council of Ministers has agreed that there should be a right for women to have reserved seats in parliament. In 2012, 17 women contested the elections, but none were elected to parliament. A women’s advocacy group in Vanuatu says it’s a breakthrough to have ministers acknowledge that women deserve to have seats set aside...
5 Female Candidates out of 68 Contesting Nauru General Election 8 June 2013
01st June, 2013
Constituency of Aiwo Ms. Pamela Eibutsina Scriven – Representative for Nauru to the Global Peace Council and Chairperson of Nauru Community Australia Inc. Constituency of Anabar (Anabar, Ijuw, Anibare) Ms. Melissa Ika – School Principal, Nauru College Constituency of Boe Ms. Lidira Ephraim – Secretariat of the Pacific Community Constituency of Yaren Ms. Charmaine Eraidinomo Scotty – Secretary of Justice, Government of Nauru Constituency of Menang Ms. Jerielyn Teleni, Secretary-General, Nauru National Commission for UNESCO ISLANDS BUSINESS Reports: Controversial Nauru President Sprent Dabwido is amongst Nauru’s 68 candidates who go to the poll this...
Tokelau Considers Reserved Parliament Seats For Women
31st May, 2013
Tokelauans have been considering whether some of seats in the territory’s parliament, the General Fono, should be formally reserved for women. A consultant to Tokelau on constitutional issues, Professor Tony Angelo, has this month been facilitating discussion various constitutional matters ahead of the next Fono meeting in July. He says the merits of reserved seats for women came up during debate on...
Vanuatu: Council of Ministers’ Paper on reserved seats for women passed by Development Committee of Officials
29th May, 2013
Director of Women’s Affairs, Dorosday Kenneth, has thanked the Director General for Women’s Affairs, Mark Bebe for making it possible for the latest Development Committee of Officials meeting to pass a Council of Minister’s Paper on 34% for Women’s participation within the Municipality and Provincial Government. In a letter which she copied to women and men leaders who have...