Women speak about difficulties they face getting into Parliament

Two women who contested the last general elections have shared the difficulties women face in trying to get to Parliament at a recent regional workshop in the Cook Islands capital of Rarotonga.

The Pacific regional Workshop on Advancing Women's representation in Parliament last month was attended by Serah Dyer and Josephine Teakeni, who contested for the West and Central Honiara seats respectively.

Mrs Dyer who heads the Women in Leadership Desk at the National Council of Women says the workshop identified that women in the region face similar problems and difficulties when it comes to contesting an election.

She says in Melanesian societies, it is often hard for people to understand why women would want to work together with men in the highest decision making body of the land.

At the regional level, Mrs Dyer says the workshop recommended more coordination and collection of data on the socio-economic, political and legal status of women in the region.

She says the workshop also recommended support for equal participation in leadership roles for national governments to take into account.

News source: SIBC Online (http://www.sibconline.com.sb/main.asp)