‘Repeal The Act’, Women Organisations Call for Change
Two women empowerment organisations are strongly calling for a total repeal of the name change policy that was implemented by amendments to the Interpretation Act and the Electoral (Registration of Voters) Act 2012 (Acts) in 2021.
The Electoral Registration of Voters Amendment Act required the application for registration as a voter to State the person’s full name as specified on his or her birth certificate and to also be accompanied by his or her birth certificate. Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, during a post Cabinet meeting press conference last Tuesday, announced Cabinet’s decision to review the name change policy implemented by amendments to the Interpretation Act and the Electoral (Registration of Voters) Act 2012 (Acts) in 2021.
This amendment heaped a lot of criticism when it was tabled and passed in Parliament in 2021.
I totally support a total repeal of this legislation Shamima Ali Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre co-ordinator
Fiji Women’s Rights Movement executive director Nalini Singh said while the action to review the name change law was commendable, the Fiji Women’s Rights Movement (FWRM) continued to advocate for the repeal of the law.
Ms Singh said it was because of its discriminatory nature to married women on the grounds of sex, gender and marital status breaching their rights to equality and to vote. “At the moment, FWRM is still awaiting judgement on the constitutional case redress filed in 2021 by seven courageous women who challenged the name change law in response to hundreds of complaints from women received by the organisation and the Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre,” she said.
Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre co-ordinator Shamima Ali said this was a ridiculous piece of legislation heard of nowhere else in the world.
“I totally support a total repeal of this legislation,” Ms Ali said.
“We have lobbied for this and made submissions to the authorities for its total repeal. It was meant to disenfranchise women and totally discriminatory towards women.” Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka said the Office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice would carry out public consultations on the change of the law in 2021. He said the review underscored the coalition Government’s commitment to re-evaluate laws enacted without adequate public consultations and deemed undemocratic. Mr Rabuka also confirmed that the Court action regarding the Opposition to the law on name change had no effect on the planned review.