The Minister for Health, Care and Business, the Hon Gemma Arias-Vasquez, has congratulated the Hon Joelle Ladislaus on her appointment as Vice Chair of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association’s Overseas Territories Women Parliamentarians Network.

Minister Arias-Vasquez said that Ms Ladislaus’ appointment was a positive recognition of her role as a woman parliamentarian in Gibraltar and within the wider Overseas Territories.

The Network provides a forum for women parliamentarians across the Overseas Territories to share experiences, identify barriers faced by women in parliamentary life, and discuss practical ways to encourage and support greater female participation in politics.

Minister Arias-Vasquez said:

“I would like to warmly congratulate Joelle Ladislaus on her appointment as Vice Chair of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association’s Overseas Territories Women Parliamentarians Network.

“Although Joelle and I sit on opposite sides of the House, and although we disagree on many political issues, I believe it is important to recognise and applaud the achievements of women in public life.

“It is also good to see an Opposition MP getting involved in these important matters, because increasing women’s participation in politics should be something that rises above party political differences.

“Gibraltar has made real progress in recent years, although we must still do more. We now have the highest number of elected female representatives in our Parliament and, for the first time, a female Speaker.

“But we should also be honest about the fact that women still make up less than a quarter of Gibraltar’s elected Members of Parliament. There remains much more to do if we are to encourage more women to stand for election, participate fully in public life, and feel that politics is a space where they belong.

“I wish Joelle every success in this role and look forward to seeing the contribution she will make through the Network in the interest of Gibraltar as a whole.”