Posted on 15 March 2024
In the upcoming Solomon Islands national election on April 17, a mere 6% of the candidates are women, according to the Solomon Islands Electoral Commission. Out of the 334 registered candidates, only 21 are females, which is a decrease of five from the previous election in 2019. Historically, female representation in Solomon Islands politics has been low, and this trend continues in the 2024 election. In the past four and a half decades, only 16 women have been voted into provincial assemblies, and just six have made it to Parliament. The last Parliament had only four female MPs, and it was only in 2019 that two women were elected to Parliament in a general election. Despite widespread belief that there should be more women MPs, significant barriers persist, hindering equal political participation for women. The previous government, now in caretaker mode, has proposed legislation for temporary special measures to guarantee additional seats for women in Provincial Assemblies, but its realization depends on the incoming administration.
Source: RNZ
Photo: UN Women via Flickr