Papua Legislative Council Office (Jubi)
Jayapura, 14/5 (Jubi) – The number of women elected to the Papua Parliament is similar to the last period.
Based on the results from the April 9 elections verified by the Papua Election Commission, only six women made it to the 55-strong provincial legislative council. They are Maria Duwitau, Yanni, Herlin Beatrix Monim, Yakoba Y Lokbere, Marte Mamayao and Kristhina R Lulupora.
Election Commissioner Beatrix Wanane said until now the percentage of women representation in the parliament is still not regulated by law.
“There is no regulation in the Law mentioned about for example that women representation in the parliament should be 30%. It only stipulates 30% representation for women in political parties,” Wanane said on Wednesday (14/5).
Earlier, the Papuan legislator Hagar Aksamina Madai said some political parties only regarded women as accessories for the elections.
“Women should be given a priority to have the opportunity to represent their gender in parliament. Women also have the capacity, so please do not think the women as accessosiries because they can do the same as the men do,” she said.
She said only women representatives could struggle for women’s rights. But she did not deny that the cultural restrictions that prevent women from joining political parties. (Jubi/Arjuna/rom)
