Understanding Elections on Women’s Participation and Youth’s in Election from a Young Woman’s Perspective

 

What initially began as my participation in the Youth S.P.A.C.E. training coordinated by the International Foundation for Electoral Systems PNG (IFES) in 2022, enabled me to later receive a Trainer of Trainees Certificate to facilitate workshops focused on Elections-Voter Education and Youth Participation. From participating as a participant in a workshop to now engaging in different spaces I’m engaged in. 

I was privileged to undertake an internship with IFES. Starting out as a young election ambassador, I facilitated workshops , creating voter messages and hosted mock voter simulations and later worked under the supervision of an expatriate as an intern security analyst during the National General Elections 2022.

Following my internship, I continued leading the network I founded—PNG YPWN. This resulted in four consecutive years (2022, 2023, 2025, and 2026) where four of our members were elected into the UPNG SRC Female Vice President seat. Additionally, several members were elected as Vice Presidents for Academic and Non-Academic Student Unions, Associations, and Alumni groups.

This year, I got 

1. Appointed as Co-Chair alongside Orovu Sepoe (Chair Lady) for the Reference Working Group to UN Women, UNDP, and DFAT under the Women Make the Change Programme 2025–2028. This programme focuses on increasing women’s political participation and representation in the upcoming general elections.

2. Serving as a member of the Technical Working Group for Youth in Elections, under a collaborative partnership between Transparency International PNG (TI PNG), the National Youth Development Authority (NYDA), and the Electoral Commission.

Looking back, what began as participation in a single workshop informed and equipped me with knowledge and skills. Through these experiences, I continue to learn and grow, grateful for every opportunity afforded to me.

 

My recent participation on the 3rd-4th of December as a speaker at the 2025 National Forum on Women’s Political Leadership, hosted by the Women Make the Change Programme and its Key Development Partners, allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of how politics operates in PNG. I listened to first-hand experiences from Hon. Governeor Rufina Peter, former women MPs (Julie Soso, Delilah Gore, women who contested in previous NGEs-Jenifer Baing, Diane Unagi, Elizabeth Brasdshaw, and leaders of political parties, including General Secretaries and Presidents.

We were also privileged to hear from prominent women leaders in the Pacific, including:

•     Hon. Ruta Babo Nemta MP, Deputy Speaker of Kiribati

•     Hon. Tina Browne MP, Leader of the Opposition, Cook Islands

•     Ms Mereseini Rakuit, Fiji’s First Female State Solicitor, youngest Parliamentarian, and former Minister of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation

Representing the 1% of young women (15-35 years of age) in the room among senior participants, I came to appreciate the efforts of those who paved the way before us. Running in politics as a woman is truly challenging. I was both confronted and encouraged, inspired by the bravery of these women.

 

On Day 2 of the Forum-Session 8: The Next Generation – Political Parties and Young Women, I spoke alongside Miss Ni Yumei Paul and Sophia Teio highlighted three key points after witnessed a confronting exchange of conversation:

1.     Realities of Politics

• The challenging realities of politics remain.

• To think only as a woman entering politics is to fight from a losing end.

• Instead, one must think as a leader.

• Women we must be prepared to confront hard conversations and realities of politics with logic and not with emotions.

2.     Sustainable Leadership

• Leadership must be practiced sustainably by mentoring the next generation, because the future is ours to build, not yours to take.

• While candidates fight to enter Parliament, ultimately, they serve the people and shape the future of the next generation.

• It is never about the individual candidate from the start.

• Sometimes it is wise to become an enabler—fostering growth, building leadership, and supporting others—rather than always taking the frontlines.

3.     Inclusion of Youths

• Youth inclusion in such forums and conversations is vital to provide perspective, inform, and empower young people with insight to the realities of politics and what to expect if contending to contest elections and finding solutions to mitigate.

• The event involved women who have contested before and those intending to participate in future elections.

• Miss Ni Yumei Paul, emphasized on the importance of Political Parties establishing Youth Wings. 

What actions am I taking to contribute to enabling young people’s participation in elections?

In 2024, during the International Anti-Corruption Day Roundtable Dialogue was held sought youth representatives from Youth Groups participated. Recommendations made were on Voter Education, Youth Empowerment, Improving the Electoral Process and Emphasis on Collaboration and Partnerships. This is to actively involve young people in the electoral process.

The outcome of the Roundtable Dialogue during the International Anti-Corruption Day resulted in the establishment of a Technical Working Group to work with the PNG Electoral Systems, TIPNG and NYDA to Implement recommendations and monitor Progress. 

So far two TWG Meetings have been held. The outcomes of the first meeting amongst other agendas, a nationwide TWG membership call out for youth groups to apply. From the call out, 116 youth groups around the country have applied. We members of the TWG are now working on screening the applications based on the membership selection criteria. In the 3rd Meeting, we will convene to finalize selections and come up with a work plan to work plan. 

Stay updated for the next update on the Progress of the TWG on Youth in Elections.