Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre Co-ordinator Shamima Ali is encouraging Fijian voters to vote female candidates into government for greater awareness of women’s perspective in issues debated in Parliament.

Responding to the line-up of 11 women candidates announced on Wednesday by the FijiFirst Party and other parties Ms Ali said it was something to be celebrated.

“Looking across all the political parties who have made their announcements and now looking at FijiFirst’s announcement yesterday I think it is something to be celebrated that we are getting so many women and women from different walks of life, women from different age groups and it is a really good sign for development in the country when you have women standing for Parliament and it is sending out good messages to other women that they can make it also,” she said.

“Having the women’s angle in every issue is important. People should start voting for women in big numbers because we have great women leaders throughout Fiji, the Pacific and the world and people should vote for them and vote them in.”

Under the leadership of FijiFirst leader Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama, the country also had its first female Speaker of Parliament.

Fiji Women’s Rights Movement refused to comment.

Edited by Naisa Koroi

Feedback:  fonua.talei@fijisun.com.fj