TRIENNIAL CONFERENCE OF THE NEW ZEALAND FEDERATION OF GRADUATE WOMEN: TAKING EFFECTIVE ACTION: SATURDAY 3 OCTOBER 2009 PGW NET PARTNERSHIPS – NZFGW IN.

TRIENNIAL CONFERENCE OF THE NEW ZEALAND FEDERATION OF GRADUATE WOMEN: TAKING EFFECTIVE

ACTION: SATURDAY 3 OCTOBER 2009PGW NET PARTNERSHIPS – NZFGW IN THE PACIFIC

WOMEN’S STATUS IN

PAPUA NEW GUINEAAND

SOLOMON ISLANDSANDRINA KL THOMASSOCIAL ENTERPRISE PHD

STUDENTUNIVERSITY OF WAIKATO

Presentation OutlineWomen in Melanesian Parliaments,

2008

Status of Women in Top Ranking Positions in Civil Service as of November 2008

Women’s status in Papua New Guinea

Conclusion

Women’s status in Solomon Islands

Conclusion

2008 Women in Melanesian Parliaments2008 Women in Melanesian ParliamentsThe Impact of Electoral Systems on

Women’s Representation in Pacific Parliaments by:

Jon Fraenkel, Australian National UniversityCountry Legislator

SizeFemale MPs

Rep %

Vanuatu 52 2 2.8

Papua New Guinea

108 1 0.9

Solomon Islands

50 0 0.0

Table 2: Share of Women in Top Ranking Positions in the Civil Service as of November

2008Jon Fraenkel, Australian National University

Nov 2008 Women in Civil Service Top RankingNov 2008 Women in Civil Service Top Ranking Positions Positions

Country Top-ranked position in civil service

Total top-ranked positions in civil service

Rep %

Vanuatu 1 11 9.1

Papua New Guinea

4 31 12.9

Solomon Islands

6 27 27.2

PNG Women in National ParliamentPNG Women in National ParliamentYear Female candidates Male candidates Results (F) Results (M)

1972 4 604 1 108

1977 6 872 2 107

1982 10 1,114 0 to 1 109-108

1987 15 1,502 0 109

1992 16 1,629 0 109

1997 50 2,322 2 107

2002 73 2,763 1 108

2007 101 2,658 1 - 0.92% 108

2012 ? ? ? ?

Women’s Status in Papua New GuineaWomen’s Status in Papua New GuineaDame Lady Carol Kidu, DBE, and

Member of Parliament:A Secondary school teacher for 20 yearsA part-time text book writerA politician for 13 years from 1997-

2009Entered politics in 1997 as candidate

for Papua New Guinea parliamentary elections and elected for Port Moresby South constituency

She was re-elected in 2002 and 2007First female cabinet minister in PNG as

Minister for Community Development and Sports Minister

Islands Business named her: 2007 Person of the Year for her work towards poverty alleviation; against domestic violence and child abuse; against HIV and AIDS; and in favour of women’s empowerment

Women’s Status in Papua New GuineaWomen’s Status in Papua New Guinea“Politics is not an easy road”

Female candidate after 2002 election – perhaps the worst election in PNG’s history

Dame Kidu established the following programmes/projects:

CODE Centre in VillageBPW Scholarship Scheme for girlsGinigoada Business Development

FoundationMoresby South Pre-School

Association

Numbers of PNG Women in ParliamentNumbers of PNG Women in ParliamentSince 1972, there has been a maximum

of 2.2% women in any one term of Parliament

Currently less than 1%

Women candidates never greater than 5% of all candidates

BUT women are 50% of the population so we are NOT a representative democracy

Figures on women in elections –Figures on women in elections – the women are invisible the women are invisible

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

1972 1987 2002

Mencandidates

Womencandidates

MenMP's

WomenMP's

Women in other political levelsAutonomous Bougainville Government – 3

Reserved seats for women (men & women vote)

Motu-Koitabu Assembly – 2 Reserved seats for women (women vote)

Organic Law on Provincial and Local Level Governments includes provision for nominated women at provincial and local level but poorly implemented

An increasing number of women (but not enough) are winning at local level elections

The Legislative Framework for Women in Politics

• An Enabling National Constitution• Organic Law on Provincial and Local Level

Government• Organic Law on the Integrity of Political

Parties and Candidates• Laws on Electoral Process

Lack of Affirmative Action in existing legislation – need for legislative reform

to bring change

What has been happening since the Constitution was enacted in 1975?

PNG’s systems of family and community relationships in many of our cultures exclude women from leadership and decision making roles in the public

sphere

Cultural, systemic and financial obstacles prevent women from participation in the National Parliament

ConclusionSystemic bias against womenWomen do not have

equality of opportunity to stand for electionequal participation in Parliamentbroad representation in Parliament

Women have a right to make decisions on matters that affect

their livesTHE KEY IS EDUCATION

There is a need for a paradigm shift in attitudes at all levels so that our people gain a better understanding of the true role of a politician and the importance of women in leadership

Women’s Status in Solomon IslandsWomen’s Status in Solomon IslandsOne woman parliamentarian elected a

few years back: Hilda Kari elected for 2 consecutive period representing Guadalcanal up to 2003

From 2003 there is currently no women parliamentarians

Systemic bias against womenWomen do not have

equality of opportunity to stand for election

equal participation in Parliamentbroad representation in Parliament

National Goals & Directive Principles not achieved

Women’s Status in Solomon IslandsWomen’s Status in Solomon IslandsViolence against women major barrier and

common practice in Solomon IslandsMany forms of sexual violence occur: child

sexual abuse by family members; commercial sexual exploitation of girls; sexual violence during armed conflict; and gang rape of girls often by young men

Violence exacerbated by pervasive poverty and low status of women with

respect to menWomen’s participation in public

leadership positions is almost non-existent

National Women’s Council movement has weakened in recent years

Women’s Status in Solomon IslandsWomen’s Status in Solomon Islands580,000 as Solomon Islands’ population in 1999 and

women make up half of the population67% of Adult women are literate79% of girls are accessing primary education24% are accessing secondary education from Forms 4-7

while 43.4% of urban girls are being educated5% accessing tertiary educationPriority must be given to educate more females84% of Adult men are literateStop gender stereotyping for female domestic

roles 5 Women are permanent secretaries and 3

females are secondary school principals compared to 100 males

Women’s Status in Solomon IslandsWomen’s Status in Solomon IslandsNational goals and directive principles for

gender equity and empowerment contained in state’s strategic plan

More qualified women are accessing top-ranking jobs in the civil service but not in legislature

WOMEN DON’T WANT OTHER WOMEN TO SUCCEED IN SOLOMON ISLANDS AND

LEADERSHIP IS A MAN’S DOMAIN

HOW DO WE RECTIFY THIS PROBLEM?Accession to CEDAW convention and state

playing active role in appointing more women into decision-making roles

State instituting Affirmative Action Plans

ConclusionConclusionNeeds a paradigm shift in cultural

attitudes in the community level as well as widespread education to change predominant patriarchal mindsets:Contemporary cultures in the Pacific and

Solomon Islands still tends to be conservative and patriarchal, reflecting a colonial and missionary heritage as well as a reluctance to change a status quo which favours men politically, socially,

economically and administratively.In some Pacific societies, women are worse

off in some ways now than they were traditionally because protective customs

and traditional protocols of women’s power and influence have either

disappeared or are being abused.

Women’s access to education is limited leading to lesser leadership opportunities and chances to improve opportunities for other women

Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development employs more men that women

Women hold very few senior positions at the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development IN 2004

Solomon Islands Parliament has no female members

Therefore, low levels of representation mean:

WOMEN’S ISSUES NOT HEARD NOR ADDRESSED!!

ConclusionConclusion

Projects to support Women in MelanesiaProjects to support Women in MelanesiaAssistance Type Group/Organisation Recipients Countries

Funding to set up a mentorship and role modeling programme to groom women to become future leaders and better employees

National Council of Women & Department of Women’s Affairs & Department of Labour

All interested female leaders and female employees

Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands.

Funding for resource person and information centre for women seeking tertiary education and career path goals as well as information for women to prevent STDs, unwanted pregnancies, HIV/AIDS awareness

National Council of Women; Department of Women’s Affairs; Labour Department & Training & Scholarships Office; Wan Smol Bag Theatre

All interested female students or women intending to improve their career paths and any other females

Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands.

Funding to set up a Small Business Resources Centre for Women in Business to provide business training (numeracy & literacy and hygienic businesses practices to female entrepreneurs)

Chamber of Commerce; Municipal Councils; NCW & Dept of Women’s Affairs; Microfinance Donor & Ministry of Trade & Investment

All interested female business entrepreneurs

Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands.

Grants for Self-Employment and Enterprise Development Programme through the local Microfinance Donors

National Council of Women; Department of Women’s Affairs; Microfinance Donors; & Ministry of Trade & Investment

All interested female business entrepreneurs

Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands.

Assistance Type Group/Organisation

Recipients Countries

Small grants for rural women to improve their living standards through potable water improvement – piping water from river to tanks or building rainwater tanks & hygienic toilets or solar power equipment

Rural Water Supply; National Council of Women & Dept of Women’s Affairs; Microfinance Donor & Ministry of Trade & Investment

All rural females intending to improve their living standards

Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands.

Grants to Vanuatu Seasonal Workers Association Trust & Unitec for seasonal workers in NZ to learn to make NZ dishes such as pikelets/scones to sell in the market and kava bars

Seasonal Workers Association Trust & Unitec to provide NZ simple cooking lessons and low-cost housing using used tyres and plastic bottles

All interested females who needing NZ simple cooking lessons to set up small businesses on their return to their respective countries

Vanuatu and possibly Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands when they start their RSE schemes.

Grants to institutions dealing with women’s domestic violence to provide safe houses, legal aid to victims, brochures and videos to generate domestic abuse awareness and its prevention

Domestic Abuse Counseling Centres and Wan Smol Bag Theatres or local theatrical groups

All rural females intending to improve their living standards

Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands.

Scholarships to female students wishing to pursue business management, management and leadership skills enhancement training and doctoral studies

Female students capable of succeeding in overseas tertiary institutions

All females eligible for tertiary training

Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands.

Projects to support Women in MelanesiaProjects to support Women in Melanesia

Assistance Type Group/Organisation Recipients Countries

Small business grants to rural women to create vegetable gardens, fishing equipment, nursery and flower equipment to undertake self-employment and enterprise development programmes

Microfinance Donor; Ministry of Trade & Investment; National Council of Women & Department of Women’s Affairs

All interested rural females needing finance to set up businesses in their respective countries

Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands.

Women’s groups at project development sites, e.g. mining sites, logging, factories etc. These programme will teach women to cook hygienic food and sell these and improve their living standards

To form women’s clubs at these sites as workers’ wives need projects to earn income and support their families

All rural females intending to improve their living standards and obtain education/awareness of the implications of purposeful work

Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands.

Awareness to mothers and young girls’ living in settlements on various illnesses, unhealthy habits and social problems and how to prevent attracting these illnesses

To form Women’s Clubs

All interested females needing education to improve their health, basic hygiene, residential hygiene and their livelihoods

Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands.

Projects to support Women in MelanesiaProjects to support Women in Melanesia

Projects to support Women in MelanesiaProjects to support Women in MelanesiaAssistance Type Group/

OrganisationRecipients Countries

Rural mothers and young girls’ educational awareness. General programmes to equip mothers and new mothers for income-generating activities

To form women's fellowships from church programmes

All interested rural females needing education to improve their living standards

Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands.

Rural women cooking and nutrition, sewing, handicrafts, home management, caring and nurturing of children; prevented unwanted pregnancies & STDs through educational awareness

Village projects to earn income for rural women

All interested rural females needing education to improve their small businesses and their living standards

Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands.

Rural women gardening, fishing, prevention of diseases project through educational awareness to improve gardening skills and receive higher yields; empower women to go fishing and improve their family’s nutrition and earn income to support themselves

Village projects All interested rural females needing education to improve their small businesses and their living standards

Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands.