Women’s Candidate Training in the COVID Era: The 2021 Tonga Election

In late November 2021, 38,500 electors went to the polls across the 36 inhabited islands of Tonga. None of the women who stood for election were successful. In this In Brief the authors consider the mode of delivery of activities in support of women who chose to contest the election in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. They share the discussions of a locally organised candidate reflection session held during the campaign period to highlight the value — and, to privilege — Tongan women’s experiences in contesting an election.Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trad

Intractable Barriers to Women’s Election in Tonga

In this In Brief the authors consider lessons learned in the aftermath of women candidates’ defeat in the 18 November 2021 general election. They identify five intractable barriers to women’s election in Tonga: voters’ expectations of reciprocity in exchange for electoral support; deeply entrenched perceptions of men’s legitimacy as political leaders; untimely support for women candidates; an inhospitable political environment for electoral gender quotas; and a lack of accountability on gender equality commitments.Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trad