Equality and Participation Bill inserts clause into constitution allowing the establishment of women-only seats -ABC
BANGKOK (TrustLaw) – Papua New Guinea last week passed a bill that guarantees up to 22 seats for women in parliament after elections are held in June 2012, ABC radio reported.
The Equality and Participation Bill, a legislation years in the making, passed by a vote of 72 to two and inserts a clause into the constitution which allows the establishment of women-only seats, ABC said.
ABC said PNG’s parliament has a dramatic gender imbalance with only four female members of parliament in 36 years.
Bob Danaya, the governor of Western Province who voted against it, said it was culturally inappropriate to encourage women to enter politics.
“In culture men are warriors. They go and protect women. We go and die for woman Mr. Speaker – not a woman going to the war,” he said, according to ABC.
It was a widely rejected view, ABC said.
“I don't find it acceptable to say that the women's role is in the home. I don't want my daughters and my grand-daughters confined to that,” ABC quoted Dame Carol Kidu, the only current female member of parliament, as saying.
“The role is in this house of parliament. But we know that the opportunities are not equal,” she was reported as saying. “Let's see how often the agenda of maternal mortality, infant mortality, gender-based violence gets onto this floor.”
Many women’s rights activists are celebrating the passing of the bill but ABC said the organic law on elections need to be amended to create the 22 guaranteed seats.
It is not known when the amendment would be brought before the parliament and, if so, whether it would receive required support from two-thirds of the parliament.
(Editing by Rebekah Curtis)
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