The Triumph Heritage Empowerment (THE) Party has endorsed seven female candidates to contest in the 2017 National Elections.
Parliamentary leader Don Polye said women will be an integral partner if THE party forms the government after the June polls.
THE party endorsed 90 candidates to contest for the 111 Parliament seats.
The Opposition Leader congratulated the newly-elected executives of the National Council of Women and challenged them to advocate on issues affecting their counterparts in the country.
"If our THE party is given the mandate to form the next government, I, as the Prime Minister, will make the council become one of our major partners in development,” Polye vowed.
"We are confident of winning more female MPs this election. Our party recorded a victory of two seats in the last election.”
Eastern Highlands Governor Julie Soso and Sohe MP Delilah Gore won their seats as THE Party candidates in 2012 National Elections, but defected to the People’s National Congress party.
Lae MP Loujaya Kouza is the only sitting female candidate with THE party.
Meanwhile, the PNG Electoral Commission stated an increase in female candidate numbers contesting this election.
From the total of 3,332 candidates, 165 are females, compared to 135, five years ago.