By Len Garae, Vanuatu Daily Post
Self-employed women’s rights activist, founder and chairwoman of Women Against Crime and Corruption (WACC) and Chairwoman of Coalition for Gender Equity in Parliament, Jenny Ligo Viregagaru has snapped at the view of the Malvatumauri National Council of Chiefs that women are not ready for the position of the President of the Republic at this time; stressing women are indeed more than ready for the position.
Firing at negative comments in the social media about the abilities of women, she says throughout history it has always been women who toiled in the shadows for their men to achieve paramount heights in society.
But now with international call and recognition for women’s rights and gender equity, women in Vanuatu have been successfully climbing the ladder of success in droves and have come out better than “some of those in Government Cabinet”.
“We respect the chiefs and I am one of the women who support the work of the Malvatumauri but I do not support the statement that has come out.
“A female candidate has to be more than a chief to qualify for the highly respectable post.
“I was honoured when the departing President of the Malvatumauri, Chief Paul Tahi referred to me as ‘Mama blong Nesen’ (Mother of the Nation).
Furthermore her WACC network has worked with the Malvatumauri to mobilise a historic protest march of 1,000 men, women and children to parliament during parliamentary session to present a petition which was adopted that same afternoon for debate.
She is adamant it is not true to claim that women are not ready to become the President of the Republic.
Jenny Ligo is also the Founder and Honourary Adviser to the Vanuatu Widows Association, Honourary Adviser to Vanuatu Chinese Women Association, Member of Vanuatu Anti Corruption Commission, NGO Community Organiser to Pro-Active Mamas after Cyclone Pam, Member of Penama Vavine Bulu Association, Member of VANGO, Member of Breast Cancer Support Group, Member of international Women’s Group and Co-Founder of Vanuatu Four Square Church.
