November 4, 2025
Suva, Fiji: A new United Nations report has raised alarms over the persistent underrepresentation of women in Pacific parliaments, warning that gender imbalance in political leadership threatens to slow the region’s progress toward inclusive governance and sustainable development.
According to the report, released by the UN Women Asia-Pacific office in collaboration with the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), women occupy less than 9% of parliamentary seats across the Pacific islands — the lowest regional average in the world. Several Pacific nations, including Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu, continue to have no female representation in their national legislatures.
The report cites cultural barriers, financial inequality, and entrenched patriarchal norms as key obstacles to women’s political participation. Despite efforts such as gender quotas and leadership training programs, progress has been described as “slow and uneven.”
“Women in the Pacific are still fighting for a seat at the table where decisions affecting their lives are made,” said Sarah Hendriks, UN Women’s Deputy Executive Director. “This is not just a gender issue — it’s a democracy issue.”
The study also highlights that countries with stronger gender parity — such as New Zealand and Samoa, which have implemented sustained policy support for female leaders — show better outcomes in education, healthcare, and climate resilience initiatives.
The UN has called for immediate policy action, including temporary special measures, increased funding for female candidates, and public awareness campaigns to combat gender stereotypes in political spaces.
With the Pacific region facing growing challenges from climate change, economic recovery, and migration, experts stress that achieving gender-balanced governance is essential to ensure inclusive policymaking and equitable resilience planning.
