Faith leaders across Bougainville have partnered with the Bougainville Electoral Commissioner to foster peaceful participation in the Autonomous Bougainville Government general election.
The move to champion electoral integrity is led by the Bougainville Council of Churches Association (BCCA) to see a peaceful election this year.
This was further strengthened when twenty-six prominent faith leaders and members of the BCCA participated in a workshop on Information Integrity and Media Literacy.
The training was facilitated through the Advancing Democracy in Bougainville (ADiB) program, implemented by the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) and supported by the governments of Australia and New Zealand.
The participants gained critical knowledge and practical tools, empowering them to disseminate accurate electoral information effectively across communities in Bougainville.
This workshop marks the first time the faith community and Bougainville Electoral Commissioner (OBEC) have formally collaborated to advance electoral education and information integrity.
A participant and United Church Bishop Abraham Toroi affirmed the BCCA’s commitment to electoral integrity.
“The BCCA is looking forward to supporting OBEC, countering electoral misinformation, and encouraging all eligible Bougainvillean voters to participate and vote in this year’s elections,” Bishop Toroi said.
The workshop enabled participants to identify several opportunities for partnership and collaboration between the faith-based leaders and OBEC.
The faith leaders will now play a direct role in supporting election awareness and disseminating accurate election information.
The governments of Australia and New Zealand are committed to supporting Bougainville in achieving a peaceful and successful 2025 election. Their support through the ADiB program enables OBEC to deliver credible, transparent, and inclusive elections.
