New Women's Representative joins IPPCC Board

By Claudio Labeli
On Tuesday 29th July 2025, the Registry in a small but significant ceremony welcomed the new Women’s representative to its Board of the Integrity of Political Parties Candidate Commission. Present at this event was the Chairman, Reverend Roger Joseph, Registrar Emmanuel Pok, senior managers and staff. Section 4 of the Organic Law on Integrity of Political Parties and Candidates (OLIPPAC) highlights the membership composition of the Board. They are; the Clerk of Parliament, Electoral Commissioner, Chairman/CEO of National Economic Fiscal Commission (NEFC), Representative of the National Council of Women and the representative of the National Council of Churches. The women’s representative on the board was left vacant for a couple of years after the exit of Ms Theresa Jaintong

In the swearing in ceremony of Ms Sabeth Yengis, chairman Joseph emphasize the important role women play in the society and also stressed the need for more women to participant in the political landscape of this country. He admitted that Ms Yengis brings the gender balance onto the current board. The Registrar in his welcoming remarks outlined the important role that Ms Yengis brings to the board as the women’s representative and the responsibilities that is mandated by the OLIPPAC in this institution.

Ms Yengis was the former President of the Council of Women of Enga having served in that position for 15 years before being elevated to the current role as the President of the National Council of Women for Papua New Guinea. On hand to formalize the swearing in ceremony was the Registry’s legal council Ms Lyean Nants.

Registry of Political Parties, a partner stakeholder in the WMC Phase 2

By Patrick Kaiku
On Tuesday the 22nd of July, 2025, the Registry of Political Parties (Registry) was invited to Kina Haus, Downtown, Port Moresby, for an inception meeting formally recommencing the second phase of the Women Make Change (WMC) program. The second phase will be within the 2025-2028 period. The second phase is a follow on from the successes of the inaugural phase (2020-2025). The inception event was organized by the UN Women and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

WMC is funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The WMC is an informal mechanism for both non-governmental organizations and government agencies. The UN Women and UNDP play the coordinating role. Through the WMC, stakeholders align their work programs aimed at empowering women to take up leadership roles and play important responsibilities in the decision-making arenas of the country.

Stakeholders in the WMC include; UN Women, UNDP, Integrity of Political Parties and Candidates Commission, Department of Provincial and Local Level Government Affairs, Department for Community Affairs and Religion, PNG Women in Leadership Program, Permanent Parliamentary Committee on Gender Equality and Women Empowerment, Improving Political Inclusion and Participation Program, National Council of Women and International Foundation for Electoral Systems. of the empowerment of women into political arena and decision-making positions.

Representing the Registry, Registrar of Political Parties, Mr. Emmanuel Pok reported on some of the key milestones in the Registry’s efforts to mainstream women participation in political party institutions in the country. Some of the initiatives include the amendments to provisions in the Organic Law on the Integrity of Political Parties and Candidates (Integrity Law), requiring political parties to endorse female candidates. These amendments are afoot in the form of the revised Integrity Law, presently with the Office of the Solicitor General, before Cabinet endorsement for reading in Parliament.

As a key stakeholder in the Women Make Change Phase 2, the Registrar made reference to the Registry of Political Party’s Corporate Plan 2023 to 2027, and the work plans of the Registry to engage in the women leadership development programs leading up to the 2027 National General Elections in PNG.

Registry of Political Parties observation team interview at NBC studios in the New Ireland province

Pic:The Team from the Office of Registry of Political Parties at the National Broadcasting Corporation New Ireland studio.

On the Tuesday the 17th of July 2025, Local-level Government Election Observation Team New Ireland from the Registry of Political Parties dropped by at the National Broadcasting Corporation New Ireland for a live interview. The Registry of Political Parties is the only governmental institution presently conducting election observations in this year’s LLG elections.

The Registry have a team on the ground, to observe and document the administration, and conduct of the 2025 LLG elections, with the stated aim of understanding the role of political parties in the communities. The team, led by Director for Policy, Legal and research, Patrick Kaiku says, they are holding discussions with political parties, candidates, and key stakeholders across two districts of Namatanai and Kavieng, to assess the environment in which the elections are being held.

He said: “election observations are very important because yumi bai kisim experience na lessons blong elections ba em bai informim how bai yumi prepare for the next election ah!” He said we’ve been having elections since 1964 and 50 years later, we are still having issues. “So mipla kam long Niu Ailan yah, em blong traim blong understandim whether ol political parties or whether environment i allowim pipol long expressim democratic rights blong ol, igo gut or align wantem tingting blong gavman long conductim free na safe elections,” he said.

The Registry has teams doing LLG elections observation nationally. Provinces covered in this year’s LLG elections include the Central Province, Morobe, Madang, East Sepik, Sandaun, Western Highlands, Enga, Southern Highlands, Jiwaka, Eastern Highlands, Northern (Oro), West New Britain, and New Ireland Provinces.

It is imperative that elections – both national and local-level government elections are observed because the documentation of election processes is the basis to inform policy and legislative reforms for future elections. The findings and recommendations from elections observations will help the Registry of Political Parties to present strong recommendations to decision-makers, with the aim of strengthening future electoral processes, especially at the subnational level.

source:NBC New Ireland/P.Kaiku