Encourage women’s participation in national legislature: Congress

Indonesian Women’s Congress (Kowani) Chairwoman Giwo Rubianto called to address the issue of low women’s participation in national politics, especially the national legislature, by promoting participation and boosting political education among women.

“Women’s participation in national politics is very low, as their participation in national legislatures barely touches 30 percent,” Rubianto stated in her opening remarks delivered during a webinar on the role of political parties in the electoral success of female party members hosted by Kowani and viewed from Jakarta on Wednesday.

Increasing women’s participation in national politics will enhance gender equality and ensure Indonesian women’s role in national development, she affirmed.

The chairwoman reiterated Kowani’s commitment to increasing women’s participation in national legislatures, as they can provide inputs on laws considered by the government, especially those regulating women and children’s rights.

“Kowani is committed to fighting for and encouraging women’s participation in the decision-making process in the parliament in line with the 2019 Kowani Congress resolution,” Rubianto stated.

The resolution necessitates the implementation of work programmes on enhancing gender equality and establishing sustainable and comprehensive women empowerment measures, she stated.

Rubianto requested women speakers invited to the webinar, being held to celebrate the 93rd National Mothers’ Day and 2022 Women 20 (W20) Conference, to encourage Indonesian women to participate in national politics.

Among women speakers invited to the webinar are members of political parties’ leadership council Sri Rahayu of PDI-P; Hetifah Sjaifudian of the Golkar Party; Sumarjati Arjoso of the Gerindra Party; and National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) chief researcher for political research Siti Zuhro, the chairwoman stated.

“I hope speakers at this webinar, who all are stellar women participating in national politics, would encourage and motivate Indonesian women participating in national politics, as their role model to fight for women and children’s rights in the legislature as being essential,” she affirmed.

The chairwoman also encouraged Indonesian women to unite and participate in Indonesian democracy and fulfill their duty as the nation’s mothers in national development.

 

Source: Antara News