Editorial: Cause For Celebration After Bill Passed

There is cause for celebration for Fijian women, women’s rights advocates and especially those who are legally married.

This is after the Electoral Registration of Voters Amendment Bill 2023 was passed on Friday.

Married women no longer need to go through the tedious task of changing their name on their birth certificate after marriage to match their details on their voter registration ID.

The Electoral (Registration of Voters) Amendment Act 2021 caused a public outcry, especially from women for the fact that any agency which received applications or submissions would only be required to accept the name of an applicant as it appeared on their birth certificate.

Many women argued that it was their prerogative to use their spouse’s names for verification processes and preferred to leave their maiden names for sentimental value.

The gravity of the policy prompted an application for Constitutional Redress filed by seven individuals challenging amendments to the Registration Voters Act and the Interpretation Act was heard at the High Court in Suva early last year.

This case continues in court.

In May, women’s rights advocate executives called on a total repeal of the act.

Background

At the time act was enacted, former Minister Responsible for Elections, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, argued that the changes addressed possible criminal activities such as fraud and identity theft.

He added that women still had the right to choose their name but it needed to be reflected on official documents.

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said nobody was forcing them to make a choice but whatever the choice one made, it should be legalised.

Tabuya Celebrates

Welcoming the bill was none other than the Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection Lynda Tabuya.

Ms Tabuya was at the forefront of being against former act while in Opposition.

On Friday, she said: “The lack of logic to make women have to choose only between their married name and their maiden name is baffling.

“We are here for a new Fiji, and I rejoice with all Fijian women worldwide that justice has been served and our right restored.”

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