Bougainville rep joins gender talks

THE Deputy Speaker of the Bougainville House of Representatives is attending a two-day workshop this week in Brisbane — thanks to the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Francesca Semoso will attend the workshop today and tomorrow to discuss how men can be advocates for the promotion of women in politics.
Semoso will be accompanied by Robert Hamal Sawa, the Minister for Personnel Management and Administrative Services.
The workshop will see current and former MPs who are supporters of gender equality, review and provide feedback on a regional draft strategy for engaging and sustaining high-level male members of parliament as national and regional advocates for women’s participation and representation in politics.
Lawrence Bassie, the programme coordinator for the UNDP’s Peace Building Fund, said that the ARB supported women’s participation in politics.
Bassie said there were three reserved seats for women in the Bougainville House of Representatives.
“Highlighting the importance of women is obviously working as we have Josephine Getsi, who won an open, unreserved seat at the most recent election in 2015,” he said.
“Women play a significant role in Bougainville’s journey to determine its political future.
“And it is critically important that support continues to be provided to not only women, but men who advocate for women’s participation in the political decision-making process.”