Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Kiribati President promises support for women’s issues, despite no ministry set up

Posted at 02:04 on 04 September, 2012 UTC

Kiribati’s President, Anote Tong, says the Government’s failure to pass legislation creating a women’s ministry doesn’t mean it won’t continue to support women’s issues.

The bill to amend the constitution, which is needed before a ministry can be established, was defeated during the second reading last month.

An MP, Tangariki Reete says the Government didn’t do enough to convince its MPs to push the bill through its second reading.

Anote Tong says the defeat was unfortunate.

“But it does not mean that we will not continue to support the women’s issues. As a government we will do it via other means, and perhaps it will come back to Parliament in the future.”

The Kiribati President, Anote Tong.