Workshop helps untie knots of power, protection and representation

“Talanoa” is a Pacific term for inclusive, transparent and participatory dialogue, often defined as storytelling or sharing ideas to build trust and empathy. It combines “Tala” (to talk) and “Noa” (void or untie), representing the opening of, or untying, knots to connect.  

The three-day workshop (supported by the the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians Gender Strengthening Fund and the UNDP Pacific Office) untied knots through conversation and practical skills-building, with the parliamentarians comparing notes on what it takes to lead, especially when you are outnumbered. 

Marie Louise Milne is the only woman elected to Vanuatu’s 52 seat parliament. 

‘Being here with my sister MPs, it gives me more strength, more motivation to break the barriers that we women and girls are facing,’ she said. 

The workshop, she said, was a reminder that visibility matters.  

‘What I think we should do is to promote more leadership, women in leadership, show to the Pacific communities that yes, women are capable, women can lead, women manage the home so they can lead also,’ she said. 

Nauru MP Charmaine Eraidinomo Scotty said one of the most striking takeaways was how familiar the challenges sounded, regardless of population size or resources.  

‘Even bigger countries have the same problems as us,’ she said.

Sessions on digital safety were especially relevant for participants, who described online harassment as a barrier that can shrink women’s public presence and deter newcomers from entering politics in the Pacific. 

Bougainville MP Amanda Masono said the workshop’s online safety discussions focused on ‘dealing with how to protect ourselves when it comes to when we're targeted as women in parliament’. 

‘Because what we've learned is online harassment and online cyberbullying is more targeted towards women, most often, and not males or men in Parliament,’ she said. 

She said MPs need the skills to communicate clearly while cutting through misinformation.  

‘Often the information that is put out on social media is not credible,’ she said.  

'I believe as women MPs it's very critical to learn how to be able to take advantage of how to communicate and “own” social media when it comes to trying to filter out what is useful information,’ she said. 

The program was developed by a coordinating committee led by Victorian MPs Juliana Addison, Cindy McLeish and Anasina Gray-Barberio.

Beyond security, the workshop also drilled into everyday tools of political work, including techniques to engage with constituents, shape a core message and build relationships that turn advocacy into action. 

Charmaine Eraidinomo Scotty said she valued the chance to learn media-handling skills in a different environment.  

‘I’m really enjoying getting tips on how to deal with media, especially because we don’t really have aggressive media in Nauru,’ she said. 

Marie Louise Milne said she would take home a renewed focus on communication, particularly the role of media in lifting women’s leadership.  

‘So here we have learned that we can use media to make sure that women are heard, women are not invisible and women can do actions and women can do change, make a difference for the future generations of the Pacific Islands,’ she said. 

'But we need more women in the Parliament of Vanuatu so that we can sit at the table and and share what we are living because we women are living with the communities and we are seeing the realities, what happens, and so that we can take the right decision for the benefits of everyone,' she said.