There is no need to create reserved seats for women in parliament, Vanuatu's minister of internal affairs says.
The Vanuatu Daily Post reported that Andrew Napuat told the 15th conference of the Vanuatu National Council of Women that current opportunities for women to enter parliament were adequate.
This is despite moves by elements of the Charlot Salwai led government to introduce specially reserved seats for women in the national parliament, which currently has no women members.
Mr Napuat said women made up over half of the country's population and should be able to fill half the parliament without reserved seats being created.
All women needed to do was to speak as one and join forces in order to forge better representation in parliament as well as municipal and provincial councils, he said.