Papua New Guinea

WOMEN and youths are an integral part of political parties and must be supported in the country, says political parties registrar Emmanuel Pok.

“In the awareness programmes, emphasis must be given to women, youth and people with disabilities as they can get more information out to people who must know the importance of political parties, their roles and functions in a democracy, why it is important to vote for endorsed candidates and to vote for policies of political parties,” he said.

Rufina Peter is just the eighth woman elected in Papua New Guinea. But the economist has been battling for her place in society since she was a child.

The celebrations when news broke that Rufina Peter had been elected governor of Papua New Guinea’s Central Province had a particular sweetness.

Port Moresby (AFP) – Women are fighting to get at least one seat in Papua New Guinea's male-dominated parliament when voting opens Monday in a mountainous, forest-clad land scarred by gender-based violence.

Prime Minister James Marape is fending off a challenge from his predecessor Peter O'Neill to lead this resource-rich but poverty-struck Pacific Island for the next five years.

Whoever wins, the new leader will need to cobble together a coalition government, say analysts.

Election campaigning is underway in Papua New Guinea with strong participation from women who are "young and determined".

Although there are 86 women candidates standing in this year's elections compared with 167 in 2017, campaigners are pushing for a female presence in the Parliament and are hopeful that attitudes will change.

RNZ Pacific's Papua New Guinea correspondent Scott Waide said seeing women come out to campaign is encouraging.