UN aims to encourage more women into politics in Nauru

Transcript

With Nauru's next election expected to take place later this year, the United Nations has initiated a campaign to increase the participation of women.

In the 47 years since Nauru was granted independence, only two women have ever been elected to Parliament.

Bridget Grace reports.

Not only does Nauru have a poor record of women being elected to Parliament, it also hasn't had many women in the running. Between 1968 and 2004, 860 men have stood for election, compared with just 31 women.   Photo: AFP

"As a person that lives in communities, you see things that they don't see. You know, you live through things and you feel things people who are working in the high up positions are too busy to even notice.  I think, the real, real issues that the people go through. It's not more or less I want to be a politician, but if being a politician is the only way to get things happening for the people that we actually need, especially for women and children.  Then maybe we should be involved in Parliament."

Ms Hubert says cultural barriers are behind women's traditionally low involvement in politics in Nauru.

"We've always had this cultural thing that women, women should do women's stuff and let the men run the country.  Even though a lot more women in Nauru are educated than men.  And it took a lot of guts for the women who actually started putting their names down as candidates.  Some went through rough times, some were good, some their constituency supported them even though it was not enough." 

She says female candidates have had support, but when it came to polling day, people reverted to voting for men.

The UN is hoping to change this mindset through a a series of workshops and a practice parliament.

The UN Women's National Programme Coodinator for Advancing Gender Justice, Andrey Manu, says cultural barriers are prevalent throughout the Pacific, but are even greater in Nauru due to its small size.

"Traditional gender roles that do not treat women as capable leaders.  And also because of the family obligations, Nauru is a small island and everybody knows everybody else.  So if a close relative makes his intention to stand, a female candidate that wants to stand that is closely related to a male candidate finds it difficult and in the end would withdraw." 

Mrs Manu has helped train aspiring female candidates by building their confidence and highlighting the different ways of thinking.

"Creating awareness among women leaders is the first step into trying to shift the mindset.  It's not easy, because we have been modeled and shaped, and taught to act and think in a certain way from when we are born."

Educating local media on how to produce gender-sensitive coverage has been another focus for the UN in Nauru.

A Nauru reporter Johanna Akubor says the government control of the media throws up particular challenges but she has learnt some skills through a workshop the UN has held recently.

"How I'm going to promote women in politics, to be in politics, I learned that I can use.  Because Nauru media, we are limited.  Well, the government today didn't allow us covering opposition."

The Radio Manager of the Nauru Media Bureau, Dominic Appi, says he'd like to see more women in Parliament. 

"And something that I would like the media here in Nauru to do.  Come election time we don't do much for campaigning, although we cover the elections, prior to the elections and during the campaign too, we don't do much like promoting them."

The UN programme culminates with a practice parliament held in the second week of February for both aspiring male and female candidates.

UN Women says five women have so far confirmed they will run for the 19 seat parliament.