Last chance for women seats

By SALLY TIWARI
MORESBY South MP Dame Carol Kidu says the sitting of parliament this month is the last opportunity to pass the organic law for the 22 seats reserved for women.
She says despite the delay in passing the organic law for the 22 reserved seats for women last year, there was still an opportunity to do so.
“Whatever happens, progress has been made and the constitutional amendment has set the foundation to build on it after 2012, if it fails to get the numbers
now,” she said.
Dame Carol said the legislation involved two processes. The first is to amend the Constitution to insert a provision for special seats for women. This required 55 votes and was passed.
The second process is the passing of the enabling organic law, which allows for the special seats to use provincial boundaries. This requires 73 votes –  a more difficult task.
She said regardless of the delay, the passing of the first phase reflected the changing attitude of MPs on the need to have women in politics.
Dame Carol clarified that once the organic law was passed, women would have to be elected for the 22 seats.
She said the 22 seats were for the 22 provincial boundaries.