Fourteen civil society organizations and non-governmental organizations in Fiji have made a significant push for electoral reforms aimed at enhancing women’s representation in Parliament. Their submission to the Electoral Law Reform Commission calls for the establishment of a 30 percent quota of reserved seats for women, as well as mandatory party quotas requiring political parties to nominate a minimum percentage of female candidates.
This initiative, championed by groups including the Fiji Women’s Rights Movement (FWRM) and the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre (FWCC), seeks to address the systemic disadvantages that women face in Fiji’s political landscape. The organizations stress that women are historically latecomers to participation in public and political life, struggling against cultural and societal barriers that perpetuate their underrepresentation.
The groups’ submission highlights that women encounter significant challenges when running for political office, including discrimination, traditional beliefs that limit women’s societal roles, and the difficulty of obtaining campaign funding. The NGOs argue that women’s presence and participation in politics are essential for a balanced and representative democracy, asserting that they make up half the population and should thus naturally be reflected in legislative bodies.
Their report includes compelling research correlating higher proportions of women in elected positions with reduced levels of corruption, further supporting the call for gender parity in government. The organizations advocate for temporary special measures (TSMs) or affirmative action laws to quickly increase women’s representation in Parliament, suggesting strategies like gender quotas, financial support for women candidates, and civic education initiatives to promote awareness of women’s political participation among voters.
The submission notes a troubling trend in recent elections, where the percentage of female candidates dropped significantly: from 24 percent in 2018 to just 18 percent in the latest general elections. The advocates deem this decline unacceptable and a national shame, emphasizing that cultural and political factors must be addressed to empower women politically.
The organizations propose a holistic approach that includes tangible measures to financially and logistically support women candidates and calls for urgent reforms that protect women from violence and harassment in the political sphere. To ensure that the proposed changes lead to real results, civic education on the importance of women’s representation is also advised.
Overall, the recommendations aim to create a more equitable political environment in Fiji, with the hope that expanded representation will enhance governance and better reflect the interests of all citizens. As the advocacy for women’s political inclusion gains momentum, there lies a hopeful prospect for a future where balanced representation plays a crucial role in Fiji’s democracy and societal development.
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