The issue of women's participation in leadership and decision-making at all levels of society is a recurring challenge that various stakeholders, including Parliament, must address constantly.
This was highlighted by the Parliament Secretary General, Jeanette Emberson, while opening the Women's Roundtable on Building a Leadership this morning.
The Secretary General says it is not an isolated issue restricted only to civil society or women's rights activists but also affects Parliament.
Emberson says they had the first Speaker’s Debate for this parliamentary term, where the topic was on women's public leadership, empowering women's participation at all levels of decision making.
She says during debate, Speaker, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu stressed that historically, women have been underrepresented in the decision making space, despite constituting half of the population and having increased participation in commerce, government, administration and other important and pertinent sectors.
Emberson says we all know that women are disproportionately outnumbered in Parliament and in other high level decision making bodies.
She says the question we need to address is what can be done to encourage women's participation or inclusion in decision-making at all levels of society.
The Secretary General says the Parliament can make a difference through women friendly or gender sensitive progress.
She says women who strive to enter Parliament face several challenges such as discrimination or cultural beliefs that limit women's role in society, balancing private family and political life gaining support from political parties and securing campaign funding.
Emberson further says women politicians are also vulnerable to harassment, intimidation and even violence.
She adds the gender sensitive Parliament's initiative takes a leading role in fostering women's participation in politics and national leadership, but also making Parliament a safe and accessible space for women.
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