Attitudes changing towards women in politics in Bougainville
Francesca Semoso, an MP for the Northern Bougainville women’s reserved seat says has noticed a change in attitudes towards women in politics since she first won her seat in 2005.
Three of the 39 seats in Bougainville’s legislature are reserved for women. Last year, however, a woman won an open seat for the first time.
Ms Getsi won the seat after contesting it with 11 men.
Ms Semoso said:
“And that is how Josephine Getsi comes in from the open seat, the constituency. So it means that people realise and people know the importance of having women to have their part played on the floor of parliament. Women provide that alternative leadership that has been lacking, and is still lacking in a lot of parliaments around the Pacific.”
