Pacific / Politics

Perceptions politics is a man's world hampers Samoan women

05:04 am on 7 October 2016

The Deputy Prime Minister of Samoa says the perception that politics is a man's arena is blocking women from entering politics.

The level of women's representation in parliament in the Pacific is among the lowest in the world with women comprising less than 16 percent of all parliamentarians in the region.

To combat this, Samoa's parliament endorsed an amendment to allow five seats to be allotted to women candidates in 2013.

Fiame Naomi Mata'afa was elected as Deputy Prime Minister in this year's election and told Daniela Maoate-Cox while some progress has been made, there is still much to be done.

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The Deputy Prime Minister of Samoa Fiame Naomi Mata'afa at a workshop in New Zealand for Pacific Parliaments. Photo: RNZ/Daniela Maoate-Cox