Call for more women politicians in Jersey

On Tuesday Sophie Walker spoke at the Island’s first Jersey Women in Politics event, which was attended by members of the States Assembly Diversity Forum, a group that has been set up increase the number of females as well as those from minority backgrounds to stand for election.

Ms Walker (46), who is a mother of four, said that the shortage of women within the Island’s politics was no different to anywhere else in the world but said more must be done to change that.

Currently only 12 of the 49 elected States Members are women.

Speaking at the event held at The Royal Yacht hotel yesterday, Ms Walker said that ‘together we should all be feminists’ and questioned the States policy on maternity pay.

Currently mothers in Jersey get two weeks’ paid statutory maternity leave from their employer.

Ms Walker said: ‘This event cannot just be a tick box to say you have done it – you now need to take action and make changes.

‘Yes, more females need to be States Members but this is not a new story and it’s the same wherever you go in the world. There is no place in the world where women are equal.’

She added: ‘Women only get two weeks’ paid maternity leave in Jersey – what’s that all about? I would love to know what the pay gap is between men and women but it hasn’t been published.’

Ms Walker was a Reuters correspondent for 20 years and first got into politics by becoming a disability campaigner when her daughter was diagnosed with autism.

She said: ‘My daughter got diagnosed with autism when she was five years old and that meant that I had to become an expert in looking after a disabled child.

‘We have to start looking at how schools teach gender equality. We need to teach men in primary schools that it’s OK to be a man and be a carer – it’s not a soft thing to want to do.’

‘We have to share and value care and the reason we don’t do that now is because women do it for free.’

The Chief Minister, Ian Gorst, who sits on the Diversity Forum, introduced the event. He said: ‘If we are really going to see progress and change, then we have to do it together as a community.

‘We must do better.’

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