Vanuatu's Minister for Internal Affairs, Patrick Crowby, has signed an order to allow women to contest for five reserved seats for women in the Port Vila Municipal Council Elections in December.
The new Order also means for the first time in any municipal election, voters will cast their votes twice; for the "general seat" for both men and women candidates, and a "reserved seat" for women candidates.
Women's groups have said it is time for the traditional male-dominated society to give females their right to elect who they want to represent them at the political level.
There are five reserved seats for women in the Port Vila Municipal Council, adding the total number of seats on the Council to 17.
