Tonga to explore parliamentary quotas for women

Tonga's government is exploring ways it can increase the number of women participating in politics.

There are currently no female MPs and there have only been a handful of women in both local body and national politics.

According to RNZI, in the lead-up to June's town and district officer elections, the Ministry of Internal Affairs has been holding workshops to encourage women to participate.

The Ministry's Chief Executive Mary Bing-Fonua said the government was looking at various options and examples across the region.

"We will definitely look at how Samoa uses temporary special measures and quotas and other examples as well. We are hoping that at the local elections, thereafter we would be able to look into who could help us, give us options to be considered."

Loop Tonga