23 Feb 2012

Women's electoral roll among proposals for Samoa forum

8:13 pm on 23 February 2012

A separate electoral roll for women is among proposals to be put forward at a forum in Samoa next week on the Constitution Amendment Bill 2012.

The chairperson of the newly-formed Samoa Women's Leadership Group says the group has been set up to examine the bill and its implications for women.

Dr Vio Annandale says a public forum on March the 1st, which will be opened by the Prime Minister and addressed by a representative of the Attorney General, aims to help people understand the legislation.

She says her group has discussed a couple of ways to achieve a minimum of 10 percent of women in parliament.

"The second option is to have a separate electoral roll for women for five seats specially allocated for women and that the public, not only women but men would also then enrol on this special women's electoral roll and vote for their preferred woman representative to enter parliament."

Dr Vio Annandale says after the forum the group may compile a submission on the Bill.