Parliament to vote for women MPs

Ilya Gridneff
July 6, 2009 - 1:44PM

Papua New Guinea's parliament will hold another vote on whether three nominated women should be placed into the chamber in an effort to foster better gender representation.

Top of the government's agenda when parliament resumes on Tuesday is their motion that relies on a constitutional provision to allow unrepresented members of the community to enter sessions.

If successful the women do not have voting rights nor can they debate the issues but many in PNG see it as the first step in the long journey to equitable female representation in the country.

PNG's Community Development Minister Dame Carol Kidu, the only female parliament member, has been the bid's driving force and is confident this time around it will get up.

"I am pleased with the behind the scenes work that different groups supporting affirmative action for women have been doing to get to the stage that we are at today," she said in a statement.

"Papua New Guinea is the first country in the world to establish a process that led to the vote that was taken in parliament last March for three women to be nominated to parliament as a temporary measure.

"While we did not get the numbers I was happy to see the support that was given by more than half the members."

The controversial bill split many in the male-dominated culture of PNG.

Some of those who want women in parliament couldn't agree with the model the government is pushing.

More than 30 members avoided turning up to the March session because they did not want to vote on what ended as 60 in favour and 13 against.

One member told AAP: "Why should they get placed, when I had to do all the hard work campaigning?"

Another said women "should be in the gardens or looking after family not politics".

PNG's Prime Minister Michael Somare urged the 88 members to support the vote this time around.

"It's about marginalised people," his spokeswoman said.

"The nominated women went through a very stringent process, one is endorsed by a church group whose size would strip that of most constituencies," she said.

The 21 members of the opposition will vote against it as it is "sugar coating the problem", a spokesman said.

"The government should amend the constitution so there are 20 seats open for only women to contest by 2012," he said.

© 2009 AAP

I feel that the way that the so-called Women's Bill is handled,it would deprive women of the chance of having the 20 seats that have been proposed for Women only to contest in 2012.
I hope the Opposition can make this clear that they are not "against" women entering Parliament ,as such ,but instead want the Constitution amended to allow the 20 seats in 2012.

What's so special about women that they want to move a bill to have seats for women?

why not Let us pass another one for the the paralysed people...oh and how about one for just the paralysed women only??

Come on people if the general public believed in someone (Like they do in Lady Carol Kidu) then they would have voted for that person. End of story.

No need lo wastim taim lo disla ol samting....

that's just some crummy politician trying to make a name for himself as a women's advocate.

Well how about he make a serious name for himself by pumping money into projects that really help women...like scholarships(education)...health(infant mortality em sta antap ya...)...stop violence against women...I know a couple of people who are in dire need of this.

olsem tingting blo mi tasol...na wanem tingting blo yupla??

larem ya. ol meri tu laik wokim nem ya.

Three PNG women chosen to be MPs come out to support motion

Posted at 23:33 on 13 July, 2009 UTC

The three women chosen by Papua New Guineas Prime Minister to be voted in as parliament MPs have for the first time come out to publicly support the motion.

They are a former teacher, premier of Morobe and former commissioner of the Girl Guides, Enny Moaitz, a former educator and the head of Caritas, Mary Toliman, and a former journalist and woman advocate, Priscilla Kare.

The paper, the Post Courier reports the three say they are supported and endorsed by womens organisations, and strongly believe in making a positive difference in the advancement of women.

The Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare has supported the plan of having reserved seats for women in parliament because voters only chose a single woman MP in the last election.

The motion is expected to be introduced by Sir Michael in this months parliamentary session.

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yes voters chose Lady Carol kidu because she has brought services to her electorate. She stood up and was counted and showed she could be counted on. Even JT the happy gardener wasn't any good against her in the last elections because people know.

only people who are special can achieve this be it women or men.

I am against reserving seats in parliament.

What did they do to be treated special?

Women if you are intending to stand for elections now is the time to show your communities that you can take on the role. I will personally be voting for any potential women candidate who can do this.

typical male..

Dont want to see and hear woman given seats in parliament.

We may have an emotional parliament cause hey are very emotional inside.
Some time ago we heard woman fighting in corridors of the parliament. It is no different if 3 or 20 women are pushed into the same corridor.

Women appointed to parliament should not happen. I always tot appointing women to parliament is every thing wrong in png politics. Because Here, boys will always play the game and unelected women will remain cheerleaders.

Let women get elected into parliament; they will earn the respect and approval of their people other members alike. See a fine example in Lady Carol, a real leader.


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