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From Crisz on Australia at risk of introducing a racist regional visa policy
It's brought heartbreak for the Pacific and Timor-Leste.
From Roy Trivedy on The human face of the internet in Timor-Leste
Fabulous and fascinating insights. Thank you Aashna for sharing. Also Amanda for the above link.
From Dr Amanda H A Watson on The human face of the internet in Timor-Leste
Thank you for this fascinating insight into the life of a mobile phone credit salesperson in Timor-Leste.
You may be interested in the experiences of similar informal economy actors in nearby Papua New Guinea. The film 'Mobail Goroka' is about the informal economy related to mobile phones in a highlands town and it is available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYuPxueHGoU
Amanda
From Tess Newton Cain on The role of the private sector in addressing family and sexual violence
Good to see some research on this - resonates strongly with a short piece I wrote in 2015 on exactly this: https://www.dailypost.vu/news/working-together-to-make-work-better/article_cd676da4-43e6-5126-94e8-ff52742b5007.html
From Fabians Lukara on Reserved seats in PNG: lessons learnt
I think culture is the main influence behind the less or no women representatives in the Parliament. It is in our cultural system that men are the leaders in everything, from the family to the political environment. With this thought, or I should say a norm in our society, it also has a strong influence on the voters choices which is manifested in the elections results. Of course women have the same opportunities, rights and freedom, but its the strong culture that acts as a blockage to what should be done. Therefore, the people should be educated on this as they are the power to put women representatives in the parliament.
From Maholopa Laveil on PNG: parties need to do more to help women get elected
Thanks Michael. I know the revised OLIPPAC was a stretch, but at least it highlights the need for more female candidates. And you're right, the Party Registry has failed, particularly with reimbursing 10% of female campaign finances.
If the quota is introduced, the party registry will have more of a load.
From Michael on PNG: parties need to do more to help women get elected
Hi Maho, another great piece.
The unfortunate thing with the revised OLIPPAC is, it also seeks to force smaller parties (with less than 5 MPs I think) to merge. The problem is, there are many parties with less than 5 MPs, including one man parties like Bryan Kramer and Garry Juffa. And they love their one-man parties.
So even the coalition of MPs who are supporting the reversed seats like Gary Juffa may not support the revised OLIPPAC because it will work against them.
To get the 20% female endorsement by parties, they will have to remove the merger provisions for smaller parties. In its current form, I don’t think it’s getting through parliament.
Second, PNG political parties usually recruit and endorse candidates with great chances of winning, including the few female candidates that they endorse. So the question will be: if they don’t find 20% female candidates with a winning chance to endorse, and therefore endorse less than 20%, how will these parties be held to account?
Will there be penalties for parties that fail to endorse at least 20% female candidates? Past experiences show parties were never held to account, eg. MPs not voting together with their party resolutions (which were not allowed under OLIPPAC before these provisions were ruled unconstitutional in 2010).
We are just complicating simple things. The 22 reserved seats are already provided for in the constitution, all they need is to pass an enabling legislation and implement it. It’s a temporary special measure.
From George Tendely on Reserved seats in PNG: lessons learnt
That's right both men and woman can be elected but with lack of honesty in delivery of services most needed by people, the country will remain the same.
From Toleafoa Alfred Schuster on Australian aid ranked second last and New Zealand last among traditional aid donors
What might also be just as interesting and useful for development practitioners is more nuanced ranking of the quality and quantity of Australia & New Zealand aid in locations where they are the predominant donor actors vis a vis, the Pacific. An assessment that could be undertaken by Pacific development stakeholders themselves perhaps.
From Katherine Bain on Useful outsiders – how can external actors support authentic locally led development?
Great piece Anna - positions which I share without a doubt. I wonder if you have any thoughts, however, on how outsiders can support the sharing of how local change happens, without taking away local leadership. International organizations and donors often argue, quite rightly, that there is a case for sharing knowledge and experience across localities but this too can become another way to impose international "experts" over local leaders in selecting, organizing and publishing cases. Any thoughts on how to be a useful outsider while also ensuring that exchange of knowledge and experience to further support local actors can still happen?
From Aashna Jamal on The human face of the internet in Timor-Leste