In planned changes to a Papua New Guinea law, the country's political parties will be required to foster the involvement of women in politics.
Women at a market in PNG. Photo: RNZ Pacific/ Koroi Hawkins
The Organic Law on Political Parties and Candidates has been re-written after the Supreme Court threw out a measure designed to stop MPs crossing the floor.
It will now require political parties to be stronger, permanent and visible, throughout a parliamentary term.
It will also endeavour to get more women into politics - something that PNG has rarely managed, with none in the current parliament.
Registrar of political parties Alphonse Gelu said to encourage women's representation, parties would have to meet a quota.
"We started off with five percent but we decided five percent is too small. So we decided to increase it to 20 percent," he said.
"Twenty percent of the total endorsed candidates by a political party, 20 percent must be women."
Parties will also be required to support women candidates in the same way they support men, Mr Gelu said.
