LocationsUNDP brings together women parliamentarians to advance gender equality in Papua New Guinean politics
November 27, 2024
Policymakers, civil society representatives, private sector leaders, and international organizations attended the consultation
On 25 November 2024, women members of the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea and the Bougainville House of Representatives gathered in Port Moresby for the second stakeholder consultation of the Joint Parliamentary Women’s Caucus this year.
The occasion, which was facilitated by UNDP with the support of the Australian Government, brought together policymakers, civil society representatives, private sector leaders, and international organizations to devise strategies for implementing policy reforms and systemic changes to promote women’s representation in politics and leadership roles in Papua New Guinea.
"This consultation is a crucial step in amplifying the voices of women leaders and encouraging collaboration across Papua New Guinea and Bougainville. It provides an inclusive platform to address pressing issues, share perspectives, and drive solutions that reflect our diverse needs. Through this dialogue, we reaffirm our commitment to advancing gender equality and empowering women in leadership,’’ stated Gov. Rufina Peter, the Co-Chair of the Joint Parliamentary Women Caucus and Governor of Central Province in her remarks to the participants.
The Governor of Central Province, Hon. Rufina Peter, currently serves as the co-chair of the Joint Parliamentary Women's Caucus
The Joint Parliamentary Women’s Caucus, which consists of 8 women members of the Papua New Guinean Parliament and Bougainville House of Representatives, was formed in 2023 with the support of UNDP’s ’Strengthening Papua New Guinea's Parliament Project’, which is generously funded by the Australian Government.
In his keynote address, the Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP, Mr. Aadil Mansoor, hailed the impressive steps the Caucus has taken towards improving gender equality by preparing a robust strategic plan that outlines and prioritizes greater women’s representation in the parliament. ‘’The success of this action plan depends on mobilizing a broad coalition of stakeholders, including civil society, academia, and the private sector, to undertake a holistic approach to addressing legal, cultural and institutional barriers faced by Papua New Guinean women,’’ he stated.
UNDP Deputy Resident Representative, Aadil Mansoor, encouraged the participants to take a holistic approach to address barriers faced by Papua New Guinean women
During the consultation, the participants reviewed some of the earlier commitments the Joint Parliamentary Women’s Caucus had made to advance women’s status in Papua New Guinean politics. Some of the measures discussed included legislative and policy options to improve women’s representation in elected bodies and providing capacity-building programs and campaign support for women contesting the 2025 Bougainville Elections and 2027 PNG National Elections. In addition, the participants discussed proposing changes to the Organic Law on Provincial Governments and Local Level Governments to mandate women’s representation in local governance.
The participants reviewed the Strategic Action Plan the Caucus had devised earlier this year to enhance women's status in Papua New Guinean politics
The Caucus was able to receive various recommendations from key stakeholders to strengthen the Strategic Action Plan which was established in the first consultation held earlier this year. The feedback will further strengthen the action plan, and hopefully result in donor support and backing to effectively implement the key commitments outlined in it.
Ms. Penny Morton, the Minister Counsellor from the Australian High Commission, attended the meeting
‘’I would like to congratulate the Joint Parliamentary Women’s Caucus on progressing on yet another significant chapter in your journey. The establishment of the caucus was an important milestone in the political landscape in Papua New Guinea. It demonstrates your collective will to ensure women’s voices are heard and that their contributions are valued at all levels. Gender equality is not just a moral imperative, but an essential component of sustainable development. Research has consistently shown that when women are empowered, communities thrive and nations prosper,’’ concluded Ms. Penny Morton, the Minister Counsellor from the Australian High Commission, in her remarks to the participants.