27 Feb 2019

Only 26 women standing in Solomons election

9:23 pm on 27 February 2019

Women make up fewer than ten percent of candidates standing for election this year in Solomon Islands.

The Electoral Commission has finalised the candidates list for the polls on the 3 April.

Of the 336 candidates nominated 310 were men and 26 were women.

However, one of the male hopefuls has been disqualified and two others have withdrawn, leaving 333 candidates running for the 50 seat parliament.

All of the country's provinces except the smallest, Rennell and Bellona, are fielding women candidates.

The capital Honiara has the most women standing, with five out of the 28 candidates or 18 percent.

Only four women have ever been elected to the Solomon Islands parliament in the 40 years since independence.

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