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.