5 Dec 2013

Pitcairn bucks region's trend of continued poor political representation by women

2:45 pm on 5 December 2013

Pitcairn Island has bucked the region's trend of continued poor political representation by women.

More women have been voted on to the island's seven-member council than men, in the latest three-yearly elections.

This comes as Pitcairn celebrates 175 years since Pitcairn women first got the vote.

A cultural adviser on Pitcairn, Meralda Warren, says Pitcairners are proud they were the first place in the world for women's suffrage which stemmed from the desire to protect women from being exploited by whalers.

She says the men held the women in high respect.

"They really looked after the island in the first four years and strove to help the islanders to appreciate this island and to grow so it is the women of the Bounty who pushed this forward."

Pitcairn Islander Meralda Warren