Fijian Women Leaders Stand Together

“Fijian Women Leaders Stand Together”

23 October 2015

A group of Fijian women parliamentarians and women’s organizations are travelling to Dili, Timor Leste this weekend to meet, share and exchange with fellow women parliamentarians, Ministers and women’s organizations on women’s political participation and leadership in the region.

The Pacific Islands have consistently produced the lowest number of women in governance in the world, with only 5.7% of women in Pacific parliaments (without Australia and New Zealand). Fiji currently has the highest number of women in parliament among the Pacific islands when the 2014 elections saw a record number of 16% women being elected into parliament. While Timor Leste ranks first in the Asia Pacific region and 16th in the world, boasting 38.5% women in parliament.

"Women face a lot of challenges in politics, and I am happy for this opportunity to learn, share and exchange the experiences in increasing women's political participation at local and national governance" said one of the woman parliamentarian from Fiji, Salote Radroro.

The 5 women parliamentarians[1]and 5 representatives of civil society and the Fiji Women’s Forum co-convenor[2]is participating in a4 day Annual Women Leader’s Exchange organized by the Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development (APWLD), the Fiji Women’s Rights Movement (FWRM), Feto iha Kbiit Servisu Hamutuk (FKSH), Caucus Iha Politika with the support of UNDP Pacific Centre from the 26th to the 29th of October. This exchange seeks to facilitate dialogue that explores the conditions that enable women parliamentarians across parties, to organise to contribute to women’s substantive representation along with the processes and structures that enable and strengthen women’s political leadership and participation. The participants also discussed the policies and practices that promote gender equality, human rights, transparency and accountability across all portfolios of government.

The participants will also be participating in the first meeting of the Pacific Island Women Caucus taking place after the exchange,where they will be joined by other women parliamentarians from other Pacific Islands

ENDS

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