While speaking in parliament today, Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Mereseini Vuniwaqa says this is because Fijian women are competent and resilient.

Vuniwaqa says Fijian women if given the right platform, they can reach greater heights.

“We don’t believe in temporary special measures which only serve to foster the false beliefs that women need a lower eligibility bar and special considerations if we are to get into parliament or other positions of leaderships.”

With the increasing number of women in parliament, Vuniwaqa says there is still more we need to do, to achieve gender equality in parliament.

She has urged all members of parliament to consider issues raised by women and address it.

“There is a real need for society to look beyond our dresses, our earrings and necklaces, our shoes, our hair, our bags, our makeup and to instead focus on our merit, the reason why we wanted to join politics, the message we have for aspiring female politicians, the challenges we face on our journey to parliament particularly during the campaign period, our own aspirations as members of parliament.”

Vuniwaqa says media also plays a crucial role in shaping the public perception on gender stereotyping that perpetuate gender discrimination.