BOUGAINVILLE: Four Bougainville Women to Stand in PNG Election

As Papua New Guinea is gearing up for elections next month, four women candidates have come forward in the autonomous region of Bougainville to contest seats against 65 men.

Magdeline Toroansi is vying for the Bougainville regional seat.

Rachael Konaka and Francesca Semoso are endorsed by the People Party for the North Bougainville seat.

Theresa Jaintong is the People Party candidate for the Central Bougainville seat.

Ms Jaintong, from Arawa, is a paramount chief of five clans.

The PNG parliament has had only one woman MP in its last term.

Efforts to set up 22 reserved seats for women in the next parliament have been unsuccessful.