Female candidates in training

FIFTY female candidates intending to contest the general election will attend a week-long training on parliamentary processes.
Tracy Vienings, the United
Nations Development Programme (UNDP) PNG acting resident
representative, said the programme was aimed at empowering the candidates to prepare themselves.
“In a highly competitive process, participants from 22 provinces were selected from over 200 applicants and will be trained on critical national policy issues, parliamentary processes and campaign strategies from March 6 to 13 in Port Moresby,” Vienings said.
With only three female MPs out of 111 in PNG’s current parliament, women continue to be under-represented as political leaders and elected officials.
Highly qualified candidates from doctors to village women and females from other sectors of the community applied for PNG Practice Parliament for Women training, highlighting just how many women are keen to represent PNG and be active in political life,” Vienings said.
The programme, organised by UNDP in coordination with the Office of Integrity of Political Parties, the National Parliament and Department of Community Development and Religion, will culminate with a practice session in the PNG parliament chamber on 13 March 2017.
“UNDP is very proud to be supporting the practice parliament for the second time in Papua New Guinea,” Vienings said.
“We believe it is important to ensure that PNG women have the opportunity and ability to actively participate in politics,” Vienngs said.”
The final list of participants is available Facebook page PNG Practice Parliament for Women 2017.