After many years of advocacy, women’s groups and activists watched as the Parliament of Papua New Guinea (PNG) voted to amend the constitution and create an additional 22 reserved seats for women. The 22 seats will be added to the current seats in parliament, held by 108 men and only one woman.

The November 23 constitutional vote is just the first step. Parliament also needs to pass an organic law on the reserved seats by a super majority of 73 votes. This important vote, expected last week, has been stalled due to two PNG prime ministers struggling for power and legitimacy through parliament and the courts.

We traveled to PNG against this political backdrop to conduct a lobby training program for 25 activists as part of the U.S. State Department’s Women Advocating for Voices in Government project. We worked closely with the National Council for Women (NCW), an IFES partner, which has been involved in the battle for reserved seats for women in government.

NCW Chairperson Scholla Kakas is lobbying for the bill. One of the main arguments she is working against is that the additional seats will cost taxpayers too much money. Kakas argues that since independence in 1975, the almost entirely male parliament has been unsuccessful in changing the low rating of PNG on the International Human Development Indicators. She believes women could change the government’s priorities to meet these basic human needs.

In a country where almost everyone goes to a Christian church, many men argue that the Bible details women as subservient to men. However, many supporters of women’s empowerment, including U.S. Ambassador to PNG Teddy Taylor, have pointed out that this argument draws on only parts of the Bible, conveniently ignoring others that indicate gender equality and women’s empowerment.

One of the highlights of the training was a presentation by Dr. Eric Kwa, professor at the PNG University Law School, on how a bill becomes a law.  Many participants did not understand the legislative process and few knew that the constitution was the supreme law of the land or that parliament could suspend rules and pass a law in one day.

“I have been lobbying on women’s issues in PNG for many years, but after this workshop, I am able to improve a lot,” participant Maria Hayes, a senior women’s rights activist, said. “I am looking forward to imparting these skills to my organization and other participants in future training programs.”

Ambassador Taylor presided over the closing ceremony. Participants thanked him profusely for the dedication of the U.S. Embassy and State Department to the advancement of women, while participants in traditional attire and face paint danced and sang traditional songs.