Minister Urges Political Parties to Step Up for Women Candidates
“Political parties need to step up and guarantee candidacy for women,” Ms Tabuya said.
Thursday 13 June 2024 | 14:59
Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection Lynda Tabuya. Photo: Parliament of Fiji
There’s still a clear line of gender disparities when it comes to women politicians in the country.
Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection, Lynda Tabuya highlighted this during her speech at the 1st Speaker’s Debate in the Third Term of Parliament, at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva on Tuesday.
Ms Tabuya challenged political parties to step up with their women’s candidacy initiative so that ultimately more women joined politics.
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“Political parties need to step up and guarantee candidacy for women,” Ms Tabuya said.
“Make barriers to entry like candidate fees, campaign funds and party leadership positions easier for women.”
Ms Tabuya said the concerning statistics from the United Nations Sustainable Goals (SDGs) Indicator Dashboard revealed that women held 25.6 per cent of seats in national parliaments globally.
She said in contrast, Fiji lagged behind at a mere 10 per cent.
“To begin with fostering a culture of respect, inclusivity and gender equality is crucial,” Ms Tabuya said.
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