REMOVAL OF THE 10% GUARANTEE FOR FEMALE MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT IS ANTI-GENDER BALANCE AND PRO-VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
The proposal from the Commission of Inquiry into the General Elections 2021 to remove the 10% minimum constitutional guarantee for Women in Samoa to become Members of Parliament is a huge blow to our efforts to protect our women from violence and other forms of discrimination.
This coming from a COI with two of the leading women supporters of Women Rights was mind boggling.
Kudos for the chairman and members of the Standing Orders, Electoral, Petitions and Constitutional Offices Committee for coming to their senses and accepting the overwhelming support from both government and Human Rights Protection Party members to keep the provision.
The next step is for the Cabinet to submit an Amendment bill to amend the Constitution which must be supported by a two-thirds majority in the House to change the wording on the 10% formula.
The 10% minimum guarantee in the Constitution ensures that in every General Elections, women shall always be represented in our Parliament by at least 6 women MPs (10% of 51 Seats in our Parliament as at present)
Accepting the archaic COI recommendation may have resulted in no more women MPs, as was the common outcome in our General Elections before the introduction of the 10% threshold.
Many countries have opted to adopt this constitutional guarantee for Women Empowerment following this initiative by Samoa.
Since the leadership status of women MPs ensures a very powerful voice by women for their rights, removing it reflects the hypocrisy of all those who suggested and supported this change in the first place.
The HRPP will continue to fight for the human rights of all our people as its name implies: The Human Rights Protection Party.
Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi
Leader of HRPP