Political parties must back more women: Speaker of Parliament

Political parties must strengthen their structures and processes to help more women enter Parliament if Fiji is to achieve greater gender representation, says Speaker of Parliament Filimone Jitoko.

Launching the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians Fiji Group Booklet: Celebrating Women in Parliament and Senate 1966–2026, Mr Jitoko said political parties held the key to increasing the number of women in national leadership.

While acknowledging the women who had broken barriers in Parliament over the past six decades, he said the next challenge was ensuring more women had the opportunity to follow in their footsteps.

Mr Jitoko called on political parties to establish structures and processes that actively encourage women to contest elections, remain committed to increasing female representation and provide institutional support throughout their political careers.

He said creating the right environment within political parties was essential to ensuring more women reached elected office.

Leader of the Opposition and People First leader Inia Seruiratu supported the Speaker's call, saying political parties must lead by example.

"One of the key statements that I keep reminding our executive management and our board of governors is modelling the change that we want to bring," Mr Seruiratu said.

He said a significant number of People First's candidates were women and the party intended to increase that number.

"We are committed to ensuring we have more women and youth participating as candidates in the next election," he said.

Mr Seruiratu acknowledged that nominating more women was only part of the solution.

"The challenge is how they get into Parliament, and I hope they receive the votes," he said.

"We are doing our part by nominating them as candidates in the hope that Fijians will elect them to Parliament."