Launch of the Pacific Women’s Political Empowerment Research Group – International Women’s Day 2021

    The Pacific Women’s Political Empowerment Research Group was launched by Professor Rosita Henry and Dr Lesley Clark as part of the International Women’s Day 2021, events at JCU.

    The Pacific Women’s Political Empowerment Research Group seeks to address research and knowledge gaps in women’s political empowerment and representation in the Melanesian sub-region of the Pacific. The Group will focus on PNG initially, as there are currently no women in the national Parliament and the next election is scheduled for June 2022.

    The research relates to the Cairns Institute's research theme - Social & Environmental Justice – the goal of which is to assist communities to respond to social and environmental change and increase social inclusion through projects committed to social justice, health and wellbeing.

    The group is led by Professor Betty Lovai, Pro Vice Chancellor (Academic and Student Affairs) at the University of Papua New Guinea, and Dr Lesley Clark, Adjunct Research Fellow with The Cairns Institute. Dr Clark is currently the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Champion for the Alumni Initiative, a project of the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians Network which aims to use mentoring by experienced Members of Parliament to support newly elected women parliamentarians across the Commonwealth.

    As its first project, the Pacific Women’s Political Empowerment Research Group is working on a rapid assessment of what has been learnt from the results of the 2017 PNG elections, what actions have been taken to date, and  are planned to increase women’s political participation and election to Parliament  

    This report will serve as a valuable guide for PNG government, the Electoral Commission, the Integrity for Political Parties and Candidates Commission, the National Council of Women, other NGO’s and international donors in the leadup to the 2022 election. 

    A second research project is a longitudinal study that will focus on the performance and experience of a representative sample of women candidates over the pre and post-election period, July 2021 to July 2023.

    Back to List


    More News


    Sandpit to Seed

    Sandpit to Seed

    The TNQ Drought Hub is excited to be working with James Cook University researchers to help them move their research ideas that could improve agricultural adaption, sustainability and resilience towar...

    Read More

    The National Soils Advocate visit

    The National Soils Advocate visit

    The TNQ Drought Hub recently hosted the National Soils Advocate, the Honourable Penelope Wensley AC for a whirlwind 2-day field trip visiting numerous soils restoration and rehabilitation sites to lea...

    Read More

    Decolonizing HDR Network

    Decolonizing HDR Network

    On 1 August, The Cairns Institute hosted a small, informal symposium for HDR students working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Far North Queensland. It brought together Indigenous...

    Read More

    JCU RED's Public Lectures

    JCU RED's Public Lectures

    The Cairns Institute Fellow Dr Kearrin Sims coordinates the JCU Research Ethical Development Symposium, now in its second year. It will be held 27-29 September at The Cairns Institute. This year will ...

    Read More

    DNA Conference 2023

    DNA Conference 2023

    The Developing Northern Australia Conference returned to Darwin this year in 2023. In 2021, the conference converted to an online event an hour before the program was due to begin due to a sudden NT C...

    Read More

    HDR Student Symposium on Decolonial Research Practices

    HDR Student Symposium on Decolonial Research Practices

    The Cairns Institute will host an informal symposium for HDR students working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Far North Queensland. This symposium will explore if and how post-gr...

    Read More

    Science to Practice Forum

    Science to Practice Forum

    TNQ Drought Hub’s Professor Allan Dale, Doctor Jane Oorschot and Ms Kara Worth were invited to speak at the Science to Practice Forum and share their experience on innovative tools and practices...

    Read More

    TNQ Drought Hub Scholarships

    TNQ Drought Hub Scholarships

    Congratulations to the TNQ Drought Hub drought resilience scholarship recipients. The hub recently offered scholarship opportunities to JCU students who were interested in undertaking an Honours or Ma...

    Read More

    Top

    © 2023 The Cairns Institute | Site Map | Site by OracleStudio | Design by LeoSchoepflin