18 women have shown their interest to run as candidates in Vanuatu’s general elections in two months time. Since independence in 1980, only five women have been elected as members of Vanuatu’s parliament. Midwife Rose Nabong, from the island of Ambrym in central Vanuatu, told the ABC it is important for Vanuatu’s women to break down barriers. “I think for the good of mothers who have needs in the grassroot we should break that barrier to be spokesmen for the women in grassroot level,” she said.
“Genders of equality should have been in our country but it seems like men don’t allow women to get into that. We are appealing to the women in the communities that wherever there is a candidate women please try and lets work together to win these seats in the parliament.” 52 members of Parliament will be elected from the October 30 elections.
