THE question of increasing the number of women in Parliament is not simply about gender equality but about strengthening democracy, governance and national development.
Speaker of Parliament Filimone Jitoko said this at the opening the 14th Speaker’s Debate in Suva on Thursday evening as he challenged participants to look beyond women’s participation in politics and focus on increasing their representation in decision-making roles.
“To put it very simply, the question of women’s representation in politics is not merely a women’s issue,” he said.
“It is a democratic issue, it is a governance issue, it is a national development issue and above all, it’s a human rights issue.”
Speaking on the theme “From Participation to Representation: How Do We Increase Women in Parliament?”, Mr Jitoko said participation referred to citizens engaging in political life through activities such as voting, protesting or attending public discussions, while representation meant serving as decision-makers in Parliament or local government.
“So, this theme invites us all to look beyond the aspirations through participatory engagement to action as a decision-maker.”
Mr Jitoko said diverse decision-making bodies strengthened democratic legitimacy, enriched public debate and improved policy outcomes.
He noted that Fiji currently had only five women serving as members of Parliament despite many qualified women being available to serve.
“Their relatively small number reminds us all that there is still considerable distance to travel before representation more closely reflects the population we serve.”
Mr Jitoko said creating greater opportunities for women to enter politics would ultimately strengthen Fiji’s democratic institutions and ensure all citizens had an equal opportunity to contribute to national decision-making.
