New Assessments on Violence Against Women in Elections in Papua New Guinea and the Autonomous Region of Bougainville

Violence against women in politics is a substantial threat to the integrity of the electoral process, affecting women’s participation as voters, candidates, election officials, activists and political party leaders and undermining free, fair and inclusive democratic processes.

Two new reports from the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) assess violence against women in elections (VAWE) in Papua New Guinea (PNG) and the Autonomous Region of Bougainville following the 2015 Autonomous Bougainville Government elections and the 2017 PNG national elections, drawing on fieldwork, research and IFES’ experiences operating in PNG and Bougainville. The analyses are organized into three key factors that influence the incidence and impact of VAWE:

• Status of women;
• Women's access to election processes; and
• Incidents of, trends and triggers for VAWE.

Based on the assessments’ findings and consultations with government and elected officials, representatives from civil society and women’s organizations and other political actors, the reports present recommendations for mitigating and preventing VAWE in the future.

Download Violence Against Women in Elections in Papua New Guinea: An IFES Assessment and Violence Against Women in Elections in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville: An IFES Assessment.

Violence Against Women in Elections in Papua New Guinea: An IFES Assessment has been funded by the Australian Government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Australian and New Zealand Governments in partnership with Papua New Guinea and the Autonomous Region of Bougainville. Violence Against Women in Elections in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville: An IFES Assessment is made possible by the support of the Australian and New Zealand Governments in partnership with Papua New Guinea and the Autonomous Region of Bougainville. The contents of both reports are the sole responsibility of IFES and do not necessarily reflect the views of DFAT or the Australian or New Zealand Governments.

Learn more about IFES’ work in Papua New Guinea and programming to eradicate VAWE.