women parliamentarians

The Apia meeting, the fourth in the series and second that Labour and Christchurch East MP Ms Poto Williams will attend.

Ms Williams who is the current Chairperson for the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) Pacific Region Steering Committee says the PWPPF is one of the “most important events for Pacific women MPs to attend.

The security issue is among a host of barriers contributing to the Pacific region's lowly rate of women's political representation.

MPs, parliamentary Speakers and senior government officials from 13 Pacific countries have gathered in Port Moresby to gain tools on how to boost the 5.6% rate which is the world's lowest.

The UN's Roy Trivedy says delegates have heard many different experiences including how Samoa's requirement for a minimum five women MPs in Parliament has been working.