Gender provisions to take effect after elections: Gelu

Dr Alphonse Gelu

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, October 30, 2016 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)

REGISTRAR of Political Parties and Candidates, Dr Alphonse Gelu, has told participants attending a workshop on Empowering Women and Strengthening Political Parties that even if the revised, Organic Law on Integrity of Political Parties and Candidates (OLIPPAC), was passed in this session of parliament- they would take full effect by the 2022 elections.

He made the comments when women in attendance asked how soon the provisions on women endorse candidates would be enforced.

“It will come into effect immediately, but there will be certain provisions there to implement after the 2017 Elections,” Dr Gelu said.

“The timing is very important, that is the reason why we wanted it way before 2012 when it was approved by NEC, but it has taken this long from 2014, 2015, and 2016, and we are only about 7 to 6 months away from the issue of writs.”

He added, however, that even though its implementation may not take effect- all the parties are encouraged to endorse women candidates

Gelu also pointed out that any effort to fully enforce the revised law would have an adverse effect to the process.

“The timing is important and we cannot just rush in to enforce as we might disrupt the process in trying to enforce everything at that time so we will give them time and maybe working on 2022 we will do that.

Provisions in the revised OLIPPAC include that a registered political party shall From the total number of candidates nominated by the party in the general election, ensure that 10 percent of those candidates are women candidates.

The registrar reaffirmed the registry’s support to women in political parties which he said would be a continued program long after the National Elections have concluded, similar to the registry’s yearly Learning and Development Workshops with all political parties.