Five women are challenging more than 60 men for the four seats in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville in this year’s election.
The five women are contesting the three open seats while the regional seat is being vied for by nine men.
In Central Bougainville, two women, running as independents, are pitted against 19 men. They are Gloria Terikian and Lynette Ona.
Another two are going up against 29 men for the North Bougainville seat. Rachel Konaka is running as an independent while Elizabeth Burain is contesting under the People’s Progress Party (PPP) banner.
Rose Pihai is the only woman against 11 men bidding for the South Bougainville seat and she is endorsed by the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
Elections in ARoB have been dominated by men despite the island being mainly a matrilineal society.
Polling for the elections runs from June 24th to July 04th, 2017.
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