Vanuatu: ‘Women treated like they don’t exist’

The Vanuatu National Council of Women says it wants the government to stop treating women like they don’t exist when it comes to workforce development.

The National Council of Women is taking part in the Public Forum on the governments National Sustainable Development Plan for 2016-2030.

It’s the first time the public is being involved in such planning.

The president of the council, Blandine Boulekone, says it’s difficult for women, even those who are highly qualified, to get jobs in government or recognition of their role in the workplace.

“In the shops around Port Vila, a lot of women are totally underpaid. And when the government is doing some training in agriculture or fisheries or things like that, it is always men, you don’t find the women, but they are also part of this development.”