Mt Hagen in the Western Highland’s Province of PNG was the location for the first in-country “Campaign School for Women” workshop, following the success of the inaugural program in Australia last year.

Date:  08 August 2008

ALP International Trainer Dr Lesley Clark presented a shorter modified version of her program to 20 women from the 5 provinces of the Highlands Region to assist them in campaigning for the Local Level Government (LLG) elections held there in June this year.

The workshop participants included twelve LLG candidates, two candidates from last year’s national election, the President of the Highlands Region Women in Politics organisation and members of local community development organisations.

“The program this time focused almost entirely on campaign planning, message development and low cost campaign methods. The workshop enabled women from across the Highlands region to share experiences and hone their own campaigns” said Dr Clark.

The workshop also provided the opportunity for Diana Ulka Uran, one of the participants who had previously provided training in the use of the recently introduced Limited Preferential Voting system, to hold a mock election to demonstrate how the system works.

Dr Clark said that the women were unanimous in citing cultural attitudes, bribery, lack of resources and absence of a free and secret vote as major barriers in winning elections. Nonetheless the opportunity to improve their campaigning skills was welcomed as indicated by Mt Hagen Urban LLG candidate Rhonnie Kalunga.

“This workshop has greatly helped me to go about my election campaign which is 10 days away. It has opened my eyes in future, especially on the three P’s [preparation, planning and performance] which is very important which I haven’t realized till now”.

Sallyn Lomutopa, a candidate at last year’s national election who plans to contest again in 2012, benefited from the workshop as well.

“This training has helped me in a very big way. I see these trainings as an eye opener and is like giving me tools for my future plan and preparations for year 2012 national elections”.

ALP International workshops also have important flow on effects as the women take their new skills and knowledge back to their own communities and organizations as indicated by the comments of Diane Ulka Uran, from the organization Meri Ikirap Sapotim, meaning “Women Arise”, which provides training for women seeking election.

“The material and the information is very useful. I wish to take them back to my organization to modify to use them as training materials for my organization”. International Projects is committed to supporting and partnering with local organisations in our programs.

Following the workshop Dr Clark accompanied Rhonnie Kalunga, a ward 7 candidate, on the campaign trail in Mt Hagen. Rhonnie, who is strongly supported by her local doctor husband, told Dr Clark that the people are crying out for better services but the money is not reaching the grass roots. “I hope to change that if I am elected” she said.

Dr Clark said that PNG women, like their Australian counterparts, are very good at grass roots campaigning, taking up the issues that are important to the community that can improve the lives of the people.

Rhonnie is passionate about her community and she showed Dr Clark how she has been campaigning on job creation programs for unemployed youth, improved water supply for the squatter settlements and educating women voters about the new Limited Preferential Voting system.

The workshop gained media coverage in Mt Hagen helping to raise community awareness of the contribution that women can make in Local Level Government.

Participants at the Mt Hagen workshop also discussed the use of affirmative action quotas to overcome the cultural and institutional barriers experienced by PNG women. At present there are legislative provisions for the appointment of two women representatives to Councils at the LLG level and for one at the provincial level. The effectiveness of the women appointed to these positions varies a great deal. In some cases no women are in fact appointed and those that are may be selected on criteria other than their expertise in women’s affairs and have limited funds to support women’s programs.

At the national level there are no gender quotas. The women from the Highlands region expressed strong support for Minister Carol Kidu’s proposal for 4 women, one from each region, to be appointed to the PNG Parliament, as well as the proposal for 20 reserved seats for women to be created for the 2012 election, one for each province.

During the workshop the women discussed possible means of supporting Lady Kidu’s proposals and resolved to send a letter to the Prime Minister on behalf of the women from the Highlands Region and also petition the Parliament.

Following the workshop Maggie Wilson, on behalf of the Mt Hagen women, consulted with Minister Carol Kidu on the draft petition they had developed. The petition is now being considered by key women’s organizations including the National Council for Women and Women in Politics. Its supporters hope that this petition will build support for Minister Kidu’s plans to introduce legislation for a range of new affirmative action measures to increase the number of women at all levels of government in PNG.

We would like to thank Maggie Wilson for helping make the program possible.

Other outcomes from Dr Clark’s visit to PNG include:

• Further support for some of last year’s workshop participants and other women interested in continuous campaigning strategies.

• A seminar for women in national political parties on the role of women in the ALP and how political parties can support women through affirmative action rules.

• Strengthening relationships between ALP International and PNG political parties