GCC eyes gender quotas in Parliament

Fiji's Great Council of Chiefs (GCC) is advocating for significant constitutional changes to boost the number of women in Parliament, citing the current low representation as a barrier to national progress.

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Fiji, he states must create more opportunities for women to lead and help shape national decisions.

GCC Chair Ratu Viliame Seruvakula supports the Speaker of Parliament's call for more women leaders, emphasizing that women's contributions to the vanua, families, and communities should be reflected in national decision-making bodies. The GCC has formally submitted its proposal for constitutional reforms to the Constitution Review Commission.

Currently, women occupy only five of the 55 seats in Parliament, a mere 9.1%. This underrepresentation extends to senior leadership roles in Provincial Councils, indicating a broader governance gap. Ratu Viliame attributes these low numbers to structural, institutional, and cultural barriers that hinder women's participation.

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women hold only five of the 55 seats in Parliament, accounting for just 9.1 per cent of the House.

To address this imbalance, the GCC proposes implementing legislated gender quotas of 30% to 40% in a new Constitution. They also advocate for increased opportunities for women in upcoming local government elections, viewing these roles as practical pathways to national politics where women can develop leadership skills and build public trust.

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Fiji cannot reach its full potential while capable women remain underrepresented.

Ratu Viliame stressed that the push for more women in leadership is fundamentally about strengthening governance and improving decision-making through diverse perspectives, rather than merely increasing numbers. He urged political parties, government institutions, civil society, and traditional leaders to collaborate in removing barriers that discourage women from entering politics.

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the push for more women in leadership is about strengthening governance, not simply increasing numbers and broader representation will bring different perspectives, improve decision-making and deliver better outcomes for the country.