Rufina Peter is an agricultural economist and politician from Papua New Guinea (PNG). Her election to the National Parliament on August 5, 2022, marked a historic moment as PNG was previously one of three countries without a woman in parliament. Additionally, she made history by becoming the first female Governor of Central Province in the same election.
Peter’s journey into politics began in the 2017 general election, although she didn’t succeed then. Despite this, she garnered the highest number of votes among all female candidates in the country. She highlighted the challenges faced by women in PNG politics, citing perceptions of male dominance, limited campaign resources, and the influence of tribal leaders.
In the 2022 election, Peter was among 167 women vying for 118 seats, outnumbered by 3,458 male candidates. She clinched victory in the Central Province, defeating the incumbent with 62,361 votes to 58,917. Running under the People’s National Congress Party, her win not only secured her role as governor but also brought her into parliament. Her election marked a significant milestone for gender representation in PNG, which previously lacked female parliamentarians.