Fiji

WITH more countries around the world voting in female prime ministers, Fiji's women are also being encouraged to add a female face to the words "Prime Minister".

Last month Prime Minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama announced that the draft Constitution was ready.

Ninteen young women graduated on Friday night from the Emerging Leaders Forum (ELF), a year-long training program run by the Fiji Womens Rights Movement.
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Fiji Teachers Union president Bal Ram said there were very few female union executives. Mr. Ram said he hoped more women candidates would contest executive positions in their national elections next year.

Supervisor of Elections, Felicity Heffernan, says it's important for women to be part of the electoral process. Ms. Heffernan made the comment at a workshop on gender-based elections cycle at the Lagoon Resort in Pacific Harbour yesterday.

Fiji women need to be encouraged to take active roles in politics. There were comments made by audience members at a public debate on whether temporary special measures are needed to get women into parliament.

Women have been encouraged to take up the challenge and to stand up and represent themselves. This is the view of Fulori Turaga of the Fiji Media Watch when asked if women are under-represented. This issue was brought up after gender imbalances in the media was noted.