THE under-representation of women at any level of government can result in a democratic deficit, says President Jioji Konrote.
He made the comment while speaking at the Pacific Women in Power Forum reception at Sofitel Fiji Resort and Spa on Monday.
Mr Konrote said it had been proven time and again that diverse groups made better decisions.
“This is particularly true when it comes to a task that is representing the views and interests of people. Women can be trusted to give a more balanced perspective regarding the issue at hand. The Pacific region has the lowest level of women’s political representation in the world and sadly, this has been the case for many years. “The low level of women representation in Pacific parliaments is a challenge for democracy and the sustainable development of our region.”
He said while there had been programs dedicated to increasing women’s political leadership, progress was rather slow.
