By Selita Bolanavanua
“Something is not right,” says Fiji’s Assistant Minister for Women, Sashi Kiran, expressing her concern on the low visibility of women in Parliament and leadership roles on boards.
When she joined Parliament in 2022, one thing that struck her was the low percentage of women Members of Parliament.
With only five women out of 55 MPs, Kiran said the perspective of women was limited, whether in standing committees or during discussions on various legislations in Parliament.
“We know to make any good legislation, it’s important to have viewpoints from different areas, different ethnic groups, age groups, gender and geography to ensure that different aspects of needs are looked at,” she said.
During her visits around Fiji, Kiran raised the question of why women are not standing for National Elections or participating in decision-making spaces.
She found that some women in confident, managerial leadership roles still felt unprepared. They felt there was a lack of training, emotional and mental support, and mentorship.
Women were also fearful of social media, cyberbullying, and societal judgment, which contributed to their self-doubt. They did not feel sufficiently prepared or trained.
To address this issue, Kiran suggested that a mock Parliament could be an effective way to improve women’s visibility.
“But we need to do much more to make women visible as leaders, so they can build their confidence,” she added.
Kiran added that support viber groups have been established in each municipality, providing a platform for women to communicate.
She is also part of a team that provides training for women, where female politicians and political party leaders participate, helping to encourage more women to join any political party.
