Samoa boasts record number of female candidates ahead of election

With the Samoan General Election only 2 days away (Friday 4th March) of the 164 candidates, 24 are women - compared to the 2011 election which had only 9 female candidates.

The local constitution was changed in 2013 to ensure that 5 of the 49 seats (10%) were for women, a move that was initially unpopular, but has since changed perceptions of women's roles in society.

The move was welcomed by local women and saw an encouraging amount of women contesting and entering the general election to represent their districts. 

Candidates include prominent Samoan business women Lemalu Sina Retzlaff and Vaimasenu'u Zita Martell. 

Despite the promising representation of women in Parliament, thousands of young people failed to register to vote in the upcoming election.

To see the full list of candidates, click here.

Image courtesy of Zita Martel.