13 August 2009

APWLD Supports Dame Carol Kidu’s Efforts in Increasing Women’s Voices in PNG Parliament

APWLD strongly supports Dame Carol Kidu, the only female Member of Parliament in Papua New Guinea (PNG), in her efforts to get three more women to serve in the PNG Parliament.

Dame Carol Kidu has untiringly spearheaded efforts to bring more women into PNG's parliament. She made three cabinet submissions, the last of which was accepted, to get approval to use a clause in the constitution to allow three nominated women members of parliament. The PNG Constitution currently allows up to three members to be nominated by two-thirds majority vote. Use of temporary special measures to facilitate women’s participation in parliament is supported within PNG’s constitutional framework: s.55(1) of the PNG Constitution which explicitly recognises the equality of all citizens, sub-section 2 specifically accepts that “subsection (1) does not prevent the making of laws for the special benefit, welfare, protection or advancement of females, children and young persons…”

The three women candidates finally chosen through an open and transparent selection process have vast experience in politics and administration. They have worked among NGOs promoting gender balance and are committed to serving the interest of the women of PNG. They carry the support and endorsement of women’s organisations based on which they submitted their expressions of interest for the MP positions.

However, the motion failed to gain the necessary support from the men parliamentarians in the March 2009 session and again in July 2009 the motion was stalled when parliament was adjourned.  The male MPs could not and would not understand why such an affirmative action for women MPs was necessary.

APWLD stands by Dame Carol Kidu as she persists, despite the setbacks, to work for increased women’s voices in the PNG parliament.

APWLD reaffirms Dame Carol Kidu’s vision of lifting PNG from the bottom of the list of women’s parliamentary representation globally.

APWLD recognises the progress made by women’s groups and individual women in PNG, however, they still have a long way to go before making their presence felt in Parliament and other decision-making bodies.

APWLD calls on the government of PNG to fulfill its commitments to CEDAW specifically in implementing temporary special measures to increase the number of women in the PNG parliament.

More and more of the peoples of PNG will realise that half the population of their country are women so how can there be only one in Parliament no matter how good and competent she is.  They will increasingly raise serious questions about the legitimacy of PNG’s democracy, and join Dame Carol Kidu and other women in demanding their rights.