18 Vanuatu women look to stand in October elections

Vanuatu’s Department of Women’s Affairs is helping to train women preparing to stand in the election.

18 women have been attending a workshop organised by the department on Efate into the workings of parliament and being an MP.

It is part of efforts to increase women’s participation in the elections set for October the 30th.

Vanuatu voters have elected five women to the 52-seat parliament since independence in 1980 and the current parliament has just one woman MP.

Four years ago, 18 of the 349 candidates were women.

The Electoral Commission is due to officially announce the names of candidates next month.