User login
 
Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea: IFES Conducts Lobby Training Program, PNG Parliament Poised to Vote on Reserved Seats for Women

Submitted by iKNOW Politics on Tue, 2012-01-31 23:28

Summary: 

After many years of advocacy, women’s groups and activists watched as the Parliament of Papua New Guinea (PNG) voted to amend the constitution and create an additional 22 reserved seats for women. The 22 seats will be added to the current seats in parliament, held by 108 men and only one woman. Parliament also needs to pass an organic law on the reserved seats by a super majority of 73 votes. Parliament also needs to pass an organic law on the reserved seats by a super majority of 73 votes in order for it to go into effect.

IFES conducted a lobby training program for 25 activists as part of the U.S. State Department’s Women Advocating for Voices in Government project, working closely with the National Council for Women (NCW). One of the highlights of the training was a presentation by Dr. Eric Kwa, professor at the PNG University Law School, on how a bill becomes a law.  Many participants did not understand the legislative process and few knew that the constitution was the supreme law of the land or that parliament could suspend rules and pass a law in one day.

Body: 

To read the complete story visit the IFES website, published 24 January 2012.  For additional information and too view photos from the training visit this link.


Papua New Guinea: Historic Women's Bill Latest Casualty of PNG Crisis

Submitted by iKNOW Politics on Mon, 2012-01-16 22:47

Summary: 

A landmark bill aimed at guaranteeing 22 women-only seats in the parliament of Papua New Guinea has failed to get the votes required as the nation's political crisis continues.

PNG's current political crisis, with the two rival camps each maintaining they are the government, saw Mr O'Neill fail to have the the necessary two thirds majority of 109 MPs required for constitutional changes.

Dame Carol Kidu, the country's only female MP who has fought courageously for this bill, cut a lonely figure as she sat in opposition benches, the only MP from the Somare camp who turned up today.

The vote was rescinded and rescheduled for debate next year.
 

Body: 

Read the complete story at The Sydney Morning Herald, published December 19, 2011.


Papua New Guinea: PNG Has Hurdles Before Women MPs Voted In

Submitted by iKNOW Politics on Mon, 2011-12-05 10:15

Summary: 

Papua New Guinea's only female MP, Dame Carol Kidu, says she is cautiously optimistic women will run in the 2012 election, but fears the move could be swamped by the Supreme Court's upcoming verdict on the government's legitimacy.

PNG's parliament last week passed the Equality and Participation Bill, a change to the constitution guaranteeing women up to 22 seats in the parliament after the June 2012 election. However, a "nuts and bolts" law defining boundaries for the new electorates has yet to pass.

Body: 

Read the whole story at Business Spectator, published November 27, 2011.


Asia Pacific Feminist Forum

Submitted by iKNOW Politics on Fri, 2011-10-28 07:55
2011-12-12
2011-12-14
Etc/GMT-4
Click here
City & Province/State: 
Chiang Mai
Country: 
Thailand
Venue: 

Furama Hotel

54 Huay Keaw Road, Muang Chiang Mai 50300
Tel: (66) 5341 5222 Fax: (66) 5341 5200
 

Description: 

The Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development (APWLD) will hold the first ever Asia Pacific Feminist Forum (APFF) on 12-14 December 2011 in Chiang Mai, Thailand. This event will bring together 100-150 activists- women lawyers, academics, advocates and youth leaders. It will be an occasion to celebrate our collective achievements, reflect on our challenges and political climates, deepen feminist knowledge and analysis, strengthen our sisterhood, solidarity and collaboration, and reaffirm our resolve to advance women’s rights.

 

Workshops:

Workshops will be divided into four categories:

1. Knowledge building: to share new scholarship, analysis, and understandings in key areas of challenges confronting the women’s movement in the region

2. Skills building: to share successful strategies and skills in advocacy for reform

3. Movement building: to share successful efforts at building our movement across nations or regions. Discussions on what has worked for the movement.

4. Our well-being: Massage, dance, songwriting workshops, and other creative workshops for our well-being

Find more information at this link.


Call for Applications: Asia Pacific Feminist Forum

Submitted by iKNOW Politics on Fri, 2011-10-28 07:35
2011-10-28
2011-11-04
Etc/GMT-4
Click here
City & Province/State: 
Chiang Mai
Country: 
Thailand
Description: 

The Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development (APWLD) will hold the first ever Asia Pacific Feminist Forum (APFF) on 12-14 December 2011 in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The APFF will bring together women activists, lawyers, academics, advocates and youth leaders to celebrate our collective achievements, reflect on our challenges and shifting political environments, deepen feminist knowledge and analysis, strengthen our sisterhood, solidarity and collaboration and reaffirm our resolve to advance women’s rights.

For more information visit the APWLD website. 

Workshops will focus on:

1.  Knowledge building: to share new scholarship, analysis, and understandings in key areas of challenges confronting the women’s movement in the region.

2. Skills building: to develop strategies and practical skills that can aid women’s rights advocacy.

3. Movement building: to strengthen collaboration across nations or regions and build new movements that reflect current challenges.

4. Our Well-being: Massage, dance, song writing workshops, and other creative workshops for our well being.


Papua New Guinea: Bougainville Woman MP Says Reserved Seats Have Changed Attitudes

Submitted by iKNOW Politics on Wed, 2011-03-30 19:45

Summary: 

A politician in the autonomous Papua New Guinea province of Bougainville, Elizabeth Burain says special women’s seats in parliament have helped change attitudes and represent a victory for women. Ms Burain was elected last year to one of Bougainville’s three reserved women’s seats, brought in under the constitution in 2004. She’s told a gathering of Pacific women politicians in Wellington that the special seats have meant it’s increasingly recognised that women take on public roles.

Body: 

For more information, please visit: RadioNewZealandInternational


Commonwealth: Happy Commonwealth Day!

Submitted by iKNOW Politics on Tue, 2011-03-15 10:13

Summary: 

“Women are leaders, innovators and givers. They are scientists, teachers and nurturers. They have vision, compassion and the will to improve their communities, which, in turn, brings change on a global scale."

Meanwhile, the Queen, in her Commonwealth Day message, noted 26 million girls are born every year across the 54 member nations.

Despite all the advancements women have made and the accomplishments they’ve achieved, she suggested more could be done to ensure they play an “even larger role” in society.

“The commendable goal is to create a greater opportunity for women as children and adults to pursue their hopes and dreams, to attain their goals, and to make best use of their talents and knowledge,” she said.

Body: 

To read the complete news please visit The Gazette.


Faces of Climate Change, International Women’s Day film screening

Submitted by iKNOW Politics on Thu, 2011-03-03 07:44
2011-03-07
US/Eastern
Click here
City & Province/State: 
Swanston St & Flinders St, Melbourne, VIC, 3000
Country: 
Australia
Venue: 

Federation Square 

Description: 

In celebration of the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day, Oxfam Australia is will be showing film series about women impacted by climate change on the big screen at Federation Square on 7th and 8th of March every hour from 11am to 5pm.

The short films from Australia, Bangladesh, Uganda and Papua New Guinea highlight the impacts of climate change on women and their communities and the inspirational role that women are playing in adapting to climate change.

To learn more about the Faces of Climate Change films go to: http://www.oxfam.org.au/explore/climate-change/what-oxfam-is-doing/faces-of-climate-change

For more information or for media enquiries please contact Victorian Campaigns Coordinator Clancy Moore on 0410 508 051.


Papua New Guinea: Hillary Clinton's visit a fillip for Papua New Guinea women

Submitted by iKNOW Politics on Wed, 2010-11-03 01:43

Summary: 

US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton's visit Wednesday to Papua New Guinea will "stress the importance of empowering women," the US embassy in Port Moresby said in a statement.Clinton, on a two-week tour of the Asia-Pacific region, will meet Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare as well as female leaders in the South Pacific's biggest country.

Body: 

For more information, please visit Earth Times.


Papua New Guinea: Hillary Clinton promotes women's empowerment in violence-plagued Papua New Guinea

Submitted by iKNOW Politics on Wed, 2010-11-03 01:42

Summary: 

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is in Papua New Guinea, promoting human rights and women's empowerment in a South Pacific nation suffering from an epidemic of rape and police brutality.

Body: 

For more information, please visit The Canadian Press.