Publications
This page collects together publications on issues related to women in politics from both the Pacific and the world. It collects together research documents, campaigning resources and key papers. If you have a publication we have missed, please send it to the PacWIP team at pacwip@gmail.com.
Vanuatu: Gender Profiles of Political Parties and Elections
This national study was undertaken by the Vanuatu Department of Women to identify what political parties in Vanuatu have done to promote women's political participation since Independence in 1980. This study is intended to inform the policy direction for the Vanuatu Government’s draft Women in Government policy, through the Department of Women’s Affairs (DWA). The objective of this study is to identify women's participation in political parties, compile data including concerns about gender equality, and identify means for advancing equality in political governance. Lack of financial and human resources to support systematic planning and policy development as well as lack of committment by political parties are cited as challenges to women's equal participation in politics. There is a need for voter education and leadership training for women. The study also provides recommendations for what should be done to strengthen women's engagement in political life in Vanuatu.
Author: Vanuatu Department of Women
Institution: Vanuatu Department of Women
Date: January 12, 2010
File size and type: 1.48 MB
Download
Gender & Local Government in the Pacific: A Comparative Regional Study
The objective of the research is to identify existing special measures, both formal and informal, at the local government level and produce a comparative analysis as a platform whereby Pacific local governments can begin to integrate gender equality into the decision making processes and the delivery of services. Through desk research a comparative analysis of eight CLGF member countries was undertaken. Four countries were then selected for detailed case studies.
Author: Adi Sivia Qoro
Institution: CLGF Pacific, IWDA and UNDEF
Date: January 6, 2010
File size and type: 1.82 MB
Download
Report: Solomon Islands Women Candidates Training Workshop 2010
Having identified a need for the training and development of future women leaders in the Solomon Islands, the Centre for Democratic Institutions (CDI) conducted a Women Candidates Training Workshop in Honiara from 8-12 March 2010 in Honiara, Solomon Islands. The workshop commenced on International Women’s Day. CDI’s partners in delivering the workshop were the Solomon Islands National Council of Women (NCW), through their Women in Shared Decision-Making (WISDM) program, the Solomon Islands Ministry of Women, Youth and Children Affairs and the Solomon Islands Parliament.
Author: N/A
Institution: Centre For Democratic Institutions
Date: December 3, 2010
File size and type: 78.43 KB
Download
Leading to Action: A Political Participation Handbook for Women
The Leading to Action Handbook is designed for use as a learning tool focused on the importance of women’s participation as a critical step towards reshaping economic, political, and social conditions to allow for equality in opportunities for both women and men. This publication was developed to empower women to become democratic and participatory leaders, whether the goal is to be elected to office, support a campaign, encourage women to vote, or secure better legislation for the community, or to hone skills to take the next political step. The Handbook is structured to be used in a workshop setting, and can be easily modified by those who use it.
Author: Mahnaz Afkhami & Ann Eisenberg
Institution: Women’s Learning Partnership For Rights, Development, and Peace (WLP)
Date: January 1, 2010
File size and type: 1.73 MB
Download
Women Leaders in Solomon Islands Public Service: A Personal and Scholarly Reflection
This study sought to identify the reasons that Solomon Islander women are poorly represented in national leadership. It was found that while women are very poorly represented in Parliament there is more to the issue of representation when the scope is broadened to include the public service. The focus includes emerging trends of women’s involvement in leadership positions and discusses the improvement in levels of women’s participation in decision-making circles within the public service. This paper looks at change as inevitable for women's participation in leadership roles, acknowledging that change includes important and hopeful steps forward as well as delays and setbacks.
Author: Asenati Liki
Institution: State, Society & Governance in Melanesia - ANU
Date: January 1, 2010
File size and type: 423.50 KB
Download
Strengthening Women’s Participation in Municipal Governance in Fiji: Where are the Women?
In Fiji and across the broader Pacific region, emphasis has been placed on data collection about governance at the national level, leading to a lack of data about local governance and therefore a lack of information about women in local government. This paper asks: Where are the women at the local levels of government? Should we be taking more notice? Preliminary research undertaken by the Strengthening Women’s Participation in Municipal Governance (SWPMG) Project in Fiji suggests that women are significantly under-represented in local government leadership and senior management positions even as national governments have been in dialogue about improving and equalising women's representation in public processes.
Author: Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF)
Institution: N/A
Date: January 1, 2010
File size and type: 463.65 KB
Download
Lessons Learned Report: Nominated Seats for Women in the Papua New Guinea Legislature
In order to redress women’s representational imbalance in the PNG National Parliament, a strategy to move ahead on temporary special measures was put in place following the 2007 UNDP Diagnostic for Women and Elections which advocated for the nomination of 3 women to the Parliament, using existing provisions in the National Constitution. The campaign was unsuccessful, but this report captured lessons learned from the process.
Utilising Temporary Special Measures To Promote Gender Balance in Pacific Legislatures: A Guide to Options
Utilising Temporary Special Measures to Promote Gender Balance in Pacific Legislatures: A Guide to Options”, is designed as a reference for governments, members of Pacific legislatures, political parties, women candidates and civil society advocates who want to understand the possible options for temporary special measures that could be introduced in the Pacific. This new publication also draws on a range of international resources, but focuses specifically on options for Pacific Islands Forum member countries, taking into account the unique local context of each of the 14 countries examined.
Experiencing the Public Sector: Pacific Women’s Perspectives
This report contains the findings and future research recommendations arising from a short study about the experiences of women in the public sector across the Pacific. Forty women from six Pacific Island countries, namely Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu, identified factors contributing to successes and challenges of working in the public sector. All were senior or middle level public sector employees. The study reveals a range of strategies and obstacles including abuses experienced by female public sector employees.
Author: Dr Kerry Zubrinich & Dr Nicole Haley
Institution: State, Society & Governance in Melanesia - ANU
Date: January 1, 2009
File size and type: 174.87 KB
Download
START: A Guide to Campaigning for Pacific Women
This booklet aims to help women who want to get involved in their own local, national and regional governance to get STARTed to take on the challenge of elections. The START strategy has been developed as a quick reference point, to help women remember some of the key issues they will need to consider and key activities they need to undertake when running for elections. It is based on the experiences of Pacific women themselves who have stood for election, drawing on their successes and the lessons they learned along the way.
Author: N/A
Institution: UNDP Pacific Centre & PIFS
Date: January 10, 2008
File size and type: 10.89 MB
Download
Women and the 2007 PNG Elections: A Diagnostic Assessment
Following the 2007 National Elections which saw only 1 women MP elected, a partnership of the United Nations, the Department for Community Development and the National Council of Women came together to undertake a process of examination, to identify the existing barriers to women‟s participation in national decision-making. An Elections Diagnostic Workshop was held in November 2007 and was attended by about 200 women and men, who undertook a process of examination of the electoral process, an assessment of campaign strategies and financing, partnerships, as well as training and capacity building. The objectives were to identify the existing barriers to women‟s political participation in national decision making, and to build consensus among all relevant stakeholders on the strategies that need to be taken collectively towards future planning, and programme implementation for women‟s leadership in PNG.
Author: 2007 Diagnostic Assessment
Institution: UNDP
Date: May 20, 2021
File size and type: 749.57 KB
Download
A woman’s place is in the House – the House of Parliament: Chpt 4 – Advancing Women’s Representation in Tonga
Since women were granted the right to vote and stand as political candidates in 1951, only four women have been voted into Parliament as People’s Representatives in the Legislative Assembly. Women have very recently been represented by appointment to Ministerial Positions of the Crown and by election to Town Officer, and by employment in decision-making levels of the public sector.
The composition of the Parliament disadvantages women by restricting eligibility for seats such that only nine seats out of the total 33 seats of the house reserved for People’s Representatives represent potential seats for women MPs. Processes of socialisation and attitudes further limit the tendency of voters to choose women candidates, though this is changing. Moreover, within the private sector women are advancing and there are successful businesses led by women including larger institutions.
Author: ‘Ofa Guttenbeil-Likiliki
Institution: PIFS
Date: January 1, 2007
File size and type: 916.86 KB
Download