The second Women’s Unification Conference is currently taking place in Monoitu, Siwai Province from November 5-9th.

The conference is an initiative of the South Bougainville Women’s Representative, Isabelle Peta with support from the Deputy Speaker and North Bougainville Women’s Representative, Francesca Semoso. The conference opened on Sunday with a church service at Our Lady of Sorrows where the two female representatives, along with Minister for Peace Agreement Implementation Albert Punghau and Education Minister Thomas Pataku, urged the congregation to vote for independence in remembrance of all those that lost their lives during the conflict.

Hon Punghau told the crowd “When you vote you are voting for 25,000 lives,” and that they must also think of the next generation of Bougainvilleans in the wokabaut to the referendum.

The conference brings together newly elected ward members, chairmen and women of community governments and women leaders from the Bougainville Women’s Federation (BWF) to learn more about the role of community government, leadership and unity. The 2016 Community Government Act requires that both a man and woman be elected to represent their ward and this conference is an opportunity for the women especially to build their confidence and learn leadership skills.

The second day of the conference began with the singing of the Peace Song and the Bougainville Regional Anthem before the community government representatives from Torokina, Siwai and Buin districts had a chance to listen to as well as question their ministers. Many did not shy away from asking the difficult questions.

Bernadette Neras, Vice President of Siwai BWF spoke of the need for more education awareness at the community level and the need for more support. She urged the other ward members that when the referendum comes: “Educate your people to come out and vote.”

Donna Pearson, Director for Community Government and Gabriel Pantei, Chief Bougainville Collector of Taxes also gave presentations to highlight the ways community government could organise activities and generate income.

The conference will run until Thursday, 9 November and will broadcast live on Radio Ples Lain, 89.1 FM.

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