Increasing women in parliament not the answer-Tongan Lord

“Increasing women’s share of seats in parliament alone is not a solution and does not guarantee that they will make decisions that benefit the majority of women.”

Those were the comments made by the Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Tonga, Lord Tui Afitu on the topic, “A Priority for Increasing the Number of Women in Pacific Parliaments” at USP earlier this week.

Afitu highlighted that true democracy would not be achieved by preferential measures because such a system would only create more problems to women being undervalued and perceived as not politically deserving.

In relation to social and tradition culture, Afitu said Tongan women are given higher status especially the “fahu” system which gives them a mystical status and social and material privileges.

This system gives equal roles in society for both women and men in spite of the fact that men usually inherit titles and land.

Tuesday marked International Women’s Day and in Fiji women celebrated in all four divisions around the country.

Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama was chief guest at Nabouwalu in Bua.


Story by: Tokasa Rainima