Koror – Elected women officials at various levels of government in the Republic of Palau convened at the first-ever “Meeting of Women in Elected Leadership” on Wednesday, 20 September 2023, supported by the International Organization for Migration (IOM).   

Thirty-three women members of the Senate, House of Delegates, State Executives and State Legislatures of Palau came together to reflect on issues of women’s political representation and to recommend actionable changes to support women’s empowerment in decision-making institutions.  All legislatures in the 16 state governments of Palau were represented at this meeting. In Palau, there are a total of 42 women elected into National and State executive and legislative offices.  

Honorable Vice President J. Uduch Sengebau Senior, who is Palau’s second female Vice President, highlighted in her opening statement that, “women’s representation in public office and law-making bodies is a key pillar of democracy and is critical to achieving Palau’s developmental objectives.”   

“It is my hope that this congregation will lead to long-term, sustainable networks that can gather regularly to discuss these fundamental issues that women in the government are faced with today,identifying ways we can advance the empowerment of women through mutual understanding and collaborative effort,” Vice President Senior added.  

While women currently serve, and have been able to in the past, in various executive and legislative roles at both National and State levels in Palau, the number of their presence has been relatively low compared to that of men. “Being a woman in an elected office in Palau is a daunting and lonely experience.  The Meeting of Women in Elected Leadership in Palau provided an opportunity, a safe space, for these women to share their views, challenges and successes on their journey to elected leadership roles.  I felt a sense of solidarity among sisters who understood each other, and who have confronted the same pressures in juggling the responsibilities of personal, family, public and community obligations,” said Honorable Vice President Senior. 

IOM Micronesia’s Head of Sub Office in Palau, Yohan Senarath in his opening remarks said, “Historical data and evidence show that having more women in elected government leads to better representation outcomes, a greater emphasis on consensus-based decision making and more investments in traditionally overlooked areas such as education and health care.”

The women elected officials attending the meeting reflected on some of the challenges they have encountered in being elected to office, including facing opposition to passing pro-women bills and limitations to good governance and accountability.  

The meeting participants agreed that fair representation in leadership and law-making bodies in Palau would contribute to meaningful discourse and support much-needed legislative reform regarding critical issues, such as maternity leave, minimum wage and strengthening informal markets which are predominantly run by women. 

The meeting resulted in an agreement to establish a network of women elected leaders in Palau, which will convene on 24 January, 2024. 

With generous support from the United States Embassy in Koror, IOM has been supporting activities under the Inspiring Women’s Advancement through Collective Action Project to enhance gender empowerment in Koror. Key initiatives implemented under the project include the provision of start-up grants to enhance livelihoods opportunities for women entrepreneurs and grants for local NGOs to expand their work in promoting gender-equitable solutions for Palauan communities. 

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For more information, please contact at IOM Micronesia: Haimanot Abebe, Email:  haabebe@iom.int, +691 320 8735