Parliament all for more women

Written by Cherelle Jackson
Sunday, 22 June 2008
WOMEN MPs : (l-r) Health Minister Gatoloai, Communications Minister, Safuneituuga Neri, MP Fuimaono and Minister of Women Affairs Fiame Naomi The Samoan Parliament has acknowledged the need for more women to join their ranks, with the official launch of the Commonwealth Womens Parliamentarian Association (CWP) yesterday. In his opening address Speaker of the House and Samoan representative to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Hon. Tolofuaivalelei Leiataua said it is time Samoa takes the political participation of women seriously. “All regional organisations value the empowerment and contribution of women, this is our acknowledgement,” he said. According to him the fact that Minister of Women Community and Social Development (MWCSD) Fiame Naomi Mataafa is the representative of the Pacific in the CWP, the CPA section for women Parliamentarians is success in itself. “This is a grand achievement to increase the number of women in Parliament,” Leiataua said. He added that despite the culture dictating the traditional role of woman as being in the home, times have changed and empowerment of women is the way to go. Leiataua said: “We can now see that women are valued the world over for their contribution, this is very important. As we see in Samoa, women are not just excelling in Parliament, but in businesses, civil societies and the community. I therefore acknowledge that to ensure a balanced governance we value women.” With that Leiataua officially launched the Samoan branch of Commonwealth Womens Parliament (CWP). The organisation stemmed out of a joint agreement between the current women Members of Parliament to officially recognize the contribution of women in politics in Samoa. Now that CWP is established in Samoa, Fiame says the next move is to lobby for a regional CWP. “It is interesting to note that the Pacific out of all Commonwealth regions has the lowest rates of participation by women in Politics,” Fiame said. CPA established CWP to ensure an increase in number of women participation in Parliament. The CPA target is no less than 30% of women in each Commonwealth Parliament. A target achievable according to the interest generated by the work of women activists in Samoa. Comments (5) Subscribe to this comment's feed ... written by Rita, June 22, 2008 we definitely need more women in parliament - hopefully those with brains and guts who will march to their own music and not the one spoon fed to them by the pm, otherwise they'll be just like their deaf, dumb and mute counterparts who are now at the pm's beck and call. i know it's hard to give up the fancy houses, all paid for trips, fancy cars and fat salaries but are they really worth selling their souls to the devil for? The elected women who sided with the pm on the rhd and land bills are a disgrace to this country and it's citizens. They will be just as guilty as their male counterparts of any deaths on the road due to this ridiculous road switch or any displaced citizens of this country due to the land grabbing bill. there are a lot of samoan women with pride, integrity, guts and intellect who should be in parliament and i hope they will run in the next elections. ... written by Rita, June 23, 2008 Fiame your father was not just a great man but also the most intelligent, honourable and honest prime minister in the history of this country. I remember my grandmother's stories of how he didn't care if they were his relatives through blood or marriage, if you're dishonest he relieves you of your duties. He made policies to assist the average citizen not just the prviledged - so I have to say that during the debates on the rhd and land bills when we didn't hear anything from you, we very disappointed. i wish you had stepped up to the plate and was your father's daughter - that would have shaken up that house more than if Misa had gotten up and crossed the room. Your father left you a great legacy please don't disappoint him or those of us who so much need someone of his calibre at this crucial point in the history of our samll country.. yay yay written by Malia, June 23, 2008 wow.........hooray to he women who are beginning to take over the Parliament..well maybe not now but later on in the future...... its time that more women would have a say in the government maybe they would be the opnes that would have a big say to change the parliament and some decision makings. maybe its time for a change once and for all.....oh well i have nothing against these women who are in the parliament but i just hope that they would make right choices and right decisions for the betterment of the people and the govenment......the Parlaiment shoiuld include all of the people in their decision-makings...they are not the only ones in the island....its a big island....ia tautuana ma outou e mafaufau mo tagata o le atunuu.......power to all the women who have brains and guts.............. ... written by rockcimus, June 23, 2008 get us a woman prime minister i say........ ... written by Malia, June 25, 2008 i think i agree with Rockimus.......maybe its time for a Prime minister woman...... ....lets see what happens... 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Last Updated ( Monday, 23 June 2008 )

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