PNG PM slams foreign media perception on lack of female representation in Parliament

The Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape has reminded foreign media that held perceptions against PNG about its lack of female representation in Parliament cannot be accepted as slow progress.

Mr Marape responded to a question from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that despite the election of  Rufina Peter as Central Province Governor, it was still very low.

He said it took Australia 40 years to elect the first female into the Australian Parliament and its federation.

Australia had its federation in 1901 and the first female elected to Parliament was in 1943 when Dame Enid Lyons was elected to the House of Representatives and Dorothy Tangney was elected to the Senate.

For PNG, Mr Marape said it took three years for women to be in Parliament and that is a statement that women were recognized as leaders in the matrilineal communities and in modern democracy his government will support females to enter Parliament through the normal election process.

He said there will be no reserved seats for women in Parliament.

Two females Rufina Peter for the Central Provincial seat and Kessy Sawang for the Rai Coast open seat in Madang have been elected to Parliament in the 2022 National elections.

Between 2012 and 2017, Papua New Guinea had three women represented in Parliament and one was the governor for the Eastern Highlands Julie Soso.

The others were Delilah Gore for Sohe Open and Loujaya Tony representing Lae Open. 

Source: NBC News/One PNG News

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