19th April 2016 The Ministry of Internal Affairs with its Women’s Affairs Division continues the efforts of women in leadership to Vava’u, Ha’apai, and ‘Eua in the next few weeks. The Division together with the International Women’s Day National Planning Committee (IWDNPC) is organizing a 1 day workshop each for the main outer island groups to encourage women to stand as candidates in the upcoming elections for District and Town Officer.
The workshop originally started on the main island for International Women’s Day where 30 women gathered to be part of the initiative. Currently, IWDNPC is working with 13 of the participants who have fully committed to stand as candidates in June. It is essential to include the outer islands and for this reason a team of facilitators including Fuiva Kavaliku, Lepolo Taunisila, and members of the Planning Committee will conduct the workshops. The workshop will begin in Vava’u, then Ha’apai this week and ‘Eua next week. The workshop is divided into different sessions regarding the roles and responsibilities of a District and Town Officer, and discussions of legal matters of candidacy. The intended outcome for these workshops is to empower women in the outer islands who wish to take up the roles of District or Town Officer.
In Vava’u there has already been a woman Town Officer for Taunga, Nunia Lolohea and in the past, there have been 2 women Town Officers in Ha’apai – Pielina Moli and Pulotu Fonua. The workshop is also intended to equip these women with knowledge of the leadership role and provide a supporting system to assist them when they run for local government. The facilitators of the workshop will leave Tonga for Vava’u today and will be in Ha’apai by the end of the week – before returning back to travel on to ‘Eua early next week.
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Issued by the: Ministry of Internal Affairs, Women Division