On this International Day of Parliamentarism, observed on 30 June under the 2025 theme ‘Achieving Gender Equality, Action by Action’, Pacific nations stand at a critical juncture. Parliaments across our region average just 8.2 percent women's representation, the lowest globally. In some Pacific Island countries, not a single woman sits in the chamber.

This is not just a crisis of numbers. It is a crisis of representation, policy inclusion, and missed potential.

In Vanuatu, only one woman sits among 52 Members of Parliament, the Hon. Marie Louise Milne. That’s less than two percent. Yet, despite this, her voice has been powerful. She has championed rural women’s concerns, pushed for stronger protections against gender-based violence, and called for equitable access to essential services in remote islands.

Systemic barriers remain: entrenched cultural expectations, campaign financing hurdles, and the lack of childcare support for MPs are just a few of the challenges. These barriers limit not only women’s entry into politics but also their full participation and leadership.

The Speaker of the Parliament of Vanuatu has previously emphasised that symbolic representation alone is not enough. We must pursue systemic inclusion. 

Efforts are underway. Vanuatu’s Department of Women’s Affairs, civil society actors, and the Parliament’s own Civic Education Unit, with support from partners like UNDP, are working to advance legal reforms, conduct outreach, and train aspiring women candidates. Cross-party discussions on reserved seats and targeted financial support are also being initiated.

There is also much to learn from within the Pacific. 

In Kiribati, Deputy Speaker Ruta Babo Nemta built a base of support among traditional leaders before contesting elections. In the Marshall Islands, former President Hilda Heine led national policy shifts by uniting diverse coalitions across gender and political divides.

These stories remind us that when women lead, communities thrive.

The economic case for gender equality is also undeniable. In Fiji, increasing women’s representation between 2014 and 2018 led to landmark laws on paid parental leave and domestic violence and boosted female workforce participation by 8 percent.

This is not just about fairness. It's about effective governance. Research shows that women MPs champion policies in education, healthcare, and social protection, all key development priorities.

Representation creates ripple effects. When Hon. Milne speaks in Vanuatu’s Parliament, she does so on behalf of more than 165,000 Ni-Vanuatu women across six provinces. She follows in the footsteps of trailblazers like Madame Angelyne Roy, Vanuatu’s first female Attorney General, and paves the way for others to follow.

As the Speaker said:

“The Pacific is a region of navigators, of people who find new pathways across vast oceans. Achieving gender equality in our parliaments demands the same spirit: careful preparation, collective effort, and unwavering commitment. In Vanuatu, the time is now. We must build bridges, action by action, to bring more women into leadership.”

Let us not ask whether women belong in Pacific parliaments; the answer is clear. Let us ask instead how quickly and deliberately we can make it happen.

Hon. Stephen Dorrick Felix is the Speaker of the Parliament of Vanuatu, and HE Naohisa Okuda serves as the Japanese Ambassador to the Republic of Vanuatu.