Vanuatu’s first President, Ati George Sokomanu has joined women leaders in Mele village to support their call for 50% women in the National Parliament.
“I support the move taken by the Vanuatu Civil Society Influencing Network and Advocates for Women in Parliament to have women in Parliament. The time is now. We need women in the development of our nation, Vanuatu”, said former President, Ati Sokomanu.
Ati Sokomanu officially opened the ‘Women Leaders National Strategic Dialogue and Training,’ which is being attended by more than 100 women leaders from across the country.
Vanuatu’s National Parliament is made up of 52 elected members, none of who are women.
Only five women have been elected to Parliament since Vanuatu gained independence in 1980.
“We are absolutely committed, in our traditional roles as family and community economists, to making sure our culture, our communities and our nation thrive. Vanuatu needs 50% women in Parliament,” said Motarilavoa Hilda Lini, spokesperson for Advocates for Women in Parliament and independent Vanuatu’s first female Member of Parliament and Minister of State.
This ground-breaking leadership programme will run for ten days.
It has been organised by Advocates for Women in Parliament and the Vanuatu Civil Society Influencing Network, with support from Oxfam in Vanuatu’s Governance, Leadership and Accountability Programme and the Australian Government’s Australian NGO Cooperation Programme (ANCP).
Photo supplied Caption: Participants of the workshop