Women activists prepare for Fiji local body polls
Women's groups in Fiji are making plans for local body elections despite no date yet announced for the polls.
Transcript
Women's groups in Fiji are making plans for local body elections despite no date yet announced for the polls.
The previous military-led government installed special administrators in the regions after terminating Fiji's elected local government councillors and mayors in 2009.
Sharon Bhagwan Rolls of Femlink Pacific told Sally Round the Fifth Fiji Women's Forum held recently came up with strategies to keep the local elections on the radar and boost women's representation rates overall.
SHARON BHAGWAN ROLLS: We actually did really well up until the time the Municipal Councils were disbanded following the military coup and we do want to see further democratisation of those decision making structures. That's really been identified as one of the key entry points for women and at the same time a more transparent selection of other decision making forum such as the District Advisory Councils. While we do have iTaukei women represented in the traditional government structures, some women are saying the current status quo in terms of one or two women is enough while others are saying we want more equity in numbers so I think that also needs to go through a lot of discussions. It's just been a little hard in terms of having elections to get a firmer commitment on that.
SALLY ROUND: So is this part of an effort to keep this on the radar?
SBR: Absolutely. Also recognising that this can also result in identifying more women and also preparing them for more participation in political office as well at the national level. By giving an entry point to women at the local level governance we've got a greater chance of seeing more women actively involved and identified also by political parties as well.
SR: The Minister of Local Government said in February that they would be having a review of the Local Government Act before they go ahead with the elections. What is wrong the Local Government Act? Why does it need reviewing?
SBR: It obviously would need to be brought in line with the new constitution for a start, in a very pragmatic way. Also to ensure that this could possibly be a chance for us to get some quotas in terms of numbers. That was almost alluded to by the Permanent Secretary of Local Government that they were so mindful that the numbers have been low. We certainly want to make sure that the act in terms of representation and the roles and regulations are updated and in line with the National Gender Policy as well as CEDAW, (the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women), and other international treaties. We would hope that the legislative review would not just be confined to the parliamentary committees here in Suva but certainly be a process that women leaders from across Fiji, from their own rural centres, can participate and that obviously needs organising.
SR: So what sort of lessons do you think you might be able to bring to the review? Lessons from the national elections last year about getting more women into local government.
SBR: There would need to be a bit more clarity in terms of the role of political parties. As you know there were no temporary special measures of quotas. We don't have any quotas in terms of our constitutional provisions or any quotas in terms of the political parties and also in terms of just supporting women and young women as well. We really need to identify and build the profiles of women and young women of all diversities who could be potential candidates.
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