By GEORGINA MICHAEL
More than half of the 195 Bachelor of Laws graduates from University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG) are women.
PNG Law Society President Hubert Namani, who was the guest speaker at the UPNG’s graduation ceremony for the School of Law yesterday, described this as a significant milestone for the legal profession.
“I take particular note that of the 195 graduates from the School of Law, it is noteworthy that women make up the majority of LLB graduates at 53 per cent, and overall account for over half of this graduating class.”
Mr Namani said at the Legal Training Institute, where he served as a council member, he had seen women trainees consistently dominate graduating classes in recent years.
“This is not just a statistic, it reflects progress, determination, and the growing strength of women in shaping the future of law and justice in Papua New Guinea,” Mr Namani said.
He also commended the UPNG’ first female Master of Laws graduate, Lois Stanley, whose achievement marked an important step in advancing higher legal scholarship among women in PNG.
“Your success signals not only personal excellence, but a broader shift toward leadership, influence, and representation of women at all levels of the profession,” Mr Namani said.
He urged the female graduates to maintain the legacy of resilience and open doors for others to follow.
“The future of our legal system will be stronger because of your presence, your voice, and your leadership. I look forward to even greater participation and leadership from our female colleagues in the years ahead,” Mr Namani concluded.