Labor's commitment to increasing the number of women in politics is extending into the Asia Pacific region through its partnership with the US based National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI).

Date:  15 March 2007

Dr Lesley Clark, a former Queensland Labor parliamentarian, has guided the NDI's program "Strengthening Women Political leaders in South East Asia" with a series of workshops on mentoring and campaigning for women in Indonesia and the Philippines.

In Indonesia in November 2006, she participated in a seminar which brought together women from Malaysia, the Philippines and Indonesia for focused discussions on leadership, campaigning and political communication.

In February 2007, Dr Clark led the training of women in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) in the southern Philippines. Held in Cotabato City, the program was timed to coincide with the launch of the Political Caucus of Women leaders in Mindanao, a multiparty caucus committed to getting more women elected to the legislature.

Dr Clark was the keynote speaker at the launch and assisted the caucus members address constitutional and organisational issues through a strategic planning workshop. She also delivered short workshops on mentoring and campaign skills to prepare women for national and local elections to be held in Philippines in May. Clark's program was based on her experience with Emily's List in Australia, the effectiveness of the ALP's Affirmative Action rules in getting more women elected, and "15 years experience campaigning for Labor in a marginal Queensland seat".

"Women in the Philippines face enormous challenges when election outcomes favour candidates with the most 'guns, goons and gold". My message from Australia was that when political parties give priority to getting women elected and when women themselves support each other, then women can succeed despite the odds."