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.
UN supports election of women MPs in PNG
30th July, 2012
The United Nations has welcomed the election of two women MPs so far, saying it is a step towards ensuring more equitable gender representation in parliament. The UN country coordinator in PNG, David McLachlan-Karr, said the election of Delilah Gore and Loujaya Toni was a step forward in the national decision-making process to achieve genuine social progress and sustainable...
Fiji Ministry of Women encourages women’s participation in constitution-making
29th July, 2012
AWARENESS campaigns have been carried out by the Ministry of Women to encourage women to participate in the election and constitutional consultation processes. Minister for Women Doctor Jiko Luveni, who was in the west for the past two days, said this was an opportune time for women to have a say. She said women were encouraged to...
Tonga Women’s Group Critical Of No-Confidence Motion
29th July, 2012
Fakatouhama wants to survey public if they like constitutional provision WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, July 29, 2012) – A Tongan group behind a petition that’s critical of a motion for a vote of no confidence in the government wants a national survey to find out if the people want such a facility in their constitution....
No suits or briefcases for PNG’s newest female MP, Loujaya Toni
28th July, 2012
PORT MORESBY (RADIO AUSTRALIA) —- Counting continues in the PNG elections but it seems just two women so far have been successful. Lae Open was won by Loujaya Toni she had to compete against her grandfather Bart Philemon to win the seat. Loujaya is a former journalist and a great singer and now an MP. Radio Australia Presenter: Geraldine Coutts Speaker: Loujaya Toni, MP elect TONI:...
Clerk to Solomon Islands Parliament, Mrs Taeasi Sanga attends Regional Presiding Officers and Clerks Conference
27th July, 2012
[The Clerk to Solomon Islands Parliament, Mrs Taeasi Sanga, is among the participants working towards better integration and streamlined processes for parliaments in the region; PHOTO, Front : Speaker of the Autonomus Region of Bouganville Hon. Andrew Miriki accompanied by NPSI staff Liam Sau, Back: Clerk to the Autonomous Region of Bouganville Mr Robert Tapi accompanied by the Clerk to Solomon Islands Parliament, Mrs Taeasi Sanga and a Foreign Affairs Officer, Mr Kennedy on their arrival...
Newly elected PNG woman MP Delilah Gore says no to reserved seats
27th July, 2012
PORT MORESBY, PNG (THE NATIONAL) —- SOHE MP Delilah Gore says there is no need for reserved seats for women in Papua New Guinea parliament. The member, who created history by being the first woman declared in the 2012 elections, finished first in a fiercely contested field of 50 men and three women. She told The National: “If a...
PNG’s new female MP, Loujaya Toni, wants to eradicate poverty
24th July, 2012
23 JULY 2012 PORT MORESBY (NBC News) —-One of Papua New Guinea’s newly elected female Member of Parliament, Loujaya Toni says her biggest aim is to fulfill the United Nations goal of alleviating poverty. And, she has pledged to the people of Lae, that she’ll be committed to achieving this goal, during her five-year term in office. At the...
New PNG MP Loujaya Toni – a life of music, politics & poetry….
24th July, 2012
Story by Keith Jackson LOUJAYA TONI (46), who shocked a strong field of male contenders to become Papua New Guinea’s newest female parliamentarian, was born in the city she now represents. Before yesterday’s win in Lae Open, Loujaya had been an aspiring politician for some years. She contested the national elections in 2007 and the Local Level Government Elections in 2008,...
Woman’s business: The political goals of Loujaya Toni
24th July, 2012
Loujaya Toni in action FORMER JOURNALIST, TEACHER, POET CUM GOSPEL SINGER Loujaya Toni, running on the ticket of the Indigenous People’s Party, is the new member elect for Lae Open seat in a male dominated race. Loujaya, a Masters in Communication Development Studies graduate from the PNG University of Technology, said she could use her knowledge and experiences to bring holistic development...
Samoa Poised To Pass Bills Focused On Women’s Rights; Maternity leave, legal abortion among considerations
24th July, 2012
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, July 24, 2012) – Samoa’s government says key bills to help women could be passed this year. Samoa has presented a periodic report to the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women. Megan Whelan reports. “The associate minister for women, community and development, Gatoloaifaana Amataga Gidlow, has told the committee...
Women take high profile seats in PNG elections
24th July, 2012
In Papua New Guinea’s election counting continues, but already there have been plenty of surprises. Women take high profile seats in PNG elections. We’ve so far seen former minister Arthur Somare lose his seat and deputy prime minister Belden Namah face a tough fight to win the seat of Vanimo Green. And now the latest shock is the victory of singer and activist Loujaya Toni over the...
FemLINKPACIFIC fosters dialogues on political process of democratization, peace and security
24th July, 2012
In the first six months of 2012 FemLINKPACIFIC has worked together with our rural network to use available media and ICTs, including community radio and television simulcasts and mainstream media strategies to raise the level of awareness of rural human security priorities particularly as a response to the devastating floods of the 1st quarter of the year, as well as...