Pacific women among least politically represented

Pacific women are among the least politically represented in the world, second only to Islamic-Arab women.

About 80 Asian-Pacific women parliamentarians met in Wellington yesterday to discuss gender and governance issues.

The parliamentary representation of women in the Pacific sub-region, excluding Australia and New Zealand, is the second-lowest in the world and only slightly higher than Islamic-Arab countries.

The Solomon Islands had no women MPs while Papua New Guinea had just one.

Najib Assifi, of the United Nation Population Fund, told the Herald he was very concerned about the low representation of women in the Parliaments of the Pacific.

Mr Assifi said it was difficult to pin down the reasons but fundamental issues had to be resolved.

The denial of women's rights and their low social status was a concern, he said.

A survey in Samoa in 2002 showed gender-based violence against women, including the violation of their human rights.

"There is denial in their decision-making, their equal status and opportunities."

Mr Assifi said work needed to be done to get village chiefs and churches to recognise women's rights.

Samoan MP Fiame Naomi Mataafa said women had other priorities such as their families and it was also necessary under electoral law to have a chiefly matai title to stand for Parliament.

Fiame Mataafa said more women were becoming matai and standing for election but most women did not see themselves in a political role.

However, many were heads of ministries such as finance and broadcasting where they acted as chief advisers to the Government.

"They tend to prefer those positions which are more secure than politics."

Fiame Mataafa said women who entered politics tended to be older, with reduced family responsibilities, and had relatives who were politicians.

Her father had been the first Samoan Prime Minister and her mother was an MP.

Ekari Malani, a member of the Fijian senate, said barriers to politics included the time and expense of running campaigns.

Ms Malani said women candidates were also disadvantaged in conservative rural areas where it was expected their place was in the home.

Many Fijian women also voted as directed by their husbands.

Women in parliament

Fiji - eight women elected in 71-member House of Representatives. They included two ministers in cabinet and one associate minister outside cabinet. A further three women appointed to the Senate, two by the Great Council of Chiefs and one by the Prime Minister.

Samoa - four women in a Parliament of 40. Three in Government and, of those, two in Cabinet.

Niue - three women out of 20 elected representatives.