Mother’s Day was an opportunity to acknowledge the struggle of Indonesian women and to further promote their determination to participate in policymaking and national development.
Mrs. Iriana Joko Widodo delivered a speech at the Commemoration of the 93rd Mother's Day 2021 in Yogyakarta, Wednesday (22/12/2021).
YOGYAKARTA, KOMPAS — Mother's Day is the right opportunity to acknowledge women’s important role in development. At the same time, it also boosts the spirit of women to speak up, to show their potential, and to be empowered to build equality and lead a life of prosperity.
"This special moment must awaken the spirit of women to be bolder in speaking out and showing their potential, as well as being more innovative in contributing to the progress of the nation," First Lady Iriana Joko Widodo said during a virtual commemoration of Mother’s Day 2021 on Wednesday (22/12/2021).
The virtual commemoration of the 93rd Mother’s Day, themed "Empowered Women, Advanced Indonesia", which took place at the Mandala Bhakti Wanitatama building in Yogyakarta. The First Indonesian Women's Congress was held in 1928 in Yogyakarta. Today, Mandala Bhakti Wanitatama is a monument to the unity of the Indonesian women's movement.
Iriana said in her address that Mother's Day was an important milestone for the women's movement to contribute to advancing the nation. During the Covid-19 pandemic, women had showed their fighting spirit in facing adversity and protecting the health of their children and those around them. This showed that women were pillars and drivers of development.
Indonesian women were expected to play an important role in being drivers to shape national character as well prepare the next generation for a strong nation. "We are working together with other nations to reduce stunting rates, reduce maternal mortality during childbirth, reduce violence against women and children, and strengthen household economies through entrepreneurship," said Iriana.
“Mother's Day is truly a celebration for all Indonesian women. This is acknowledgment of the achievements and importance of the work of women in various development sectors," said Women's Empowerment and Child Protection Minister I Gusti Ayu Bintang Darmawati.
Kompas/Priyombodo
Action to commemorate Mother's Day by protesters from various alliances in front of the DPR building, Central Jakarta, Wednesday (22/12/2021). They demanded the ratification of the Draft Sexual Violence Act.
Must not be left behind
Bintang said Mother’s Day was an opportunity to acknowledge the struggle of Indonesian women and to further promote their determination to participate in policymaking and national development. Moreover, women made up half of the population and were the nation's strength in human resources.
“The effort to empower women should involve all Indonesian citizens because its benefits will be felt nationally, even globally. If we want Indonesia to progress, women cannot be left behind," she said.
According to Indonesian Women's Congress chair Giwo Rubianto, the struggles of women since the First Indonesian Women's Congress in 1928 must be promoted further, because the problems of 93 years ago were still relevant today.
"We must fight together for women’s protection. This should not involve only women's activists and organizations. If members of the DPR [House of Representatives], not to mention law enforcement agencies, do not support the struggles of women, of course it will be difficult,” Giwo said, citing the difficulties in pushing for the House to pass the Sexual Violence Eradication Bill as an example.
The chairwoman of the National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan), Andy Yentriayani, said that strategic efforts were needed to ensure substantive equality for men and women and to create a life free of discrimination and violence against women. "The rising number of cases of violence against women reported to the commission has not been supported by adequate capacity to help the victims fight for justice and recover," she said.
KOMPAS/SONYA HELLEN SINOMBOR
Minister of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection I Gusti Ayu Bintang Darmawati, Chairperson of Kowani Giwo Rubianto, and Chair of Komnas Perempuan Andy Yentriyani, took a group photo at the 93rd Mother's Day Commemoration which took place in a hybrid at the Mandala Bhakti Wanitatama Building, Yogyakarta, Wednesday (22/12/ 2021).
The gap between women and men still existed in the world of work. International Labour Organization program officer Tendy Gunawan said that the gap was growing wider for women with disabilities. "Women with disabilities are being marginalized in access to education and jobs," he said.
A number of family organizations headed by women have demanded equality in using either the father’s or mother’s name for administrative purposes, such as on their children’s school certificates. As the head of the family, women struggled to finance and educate their children without the help of their husbands.
Women with disabilities are being marginalized in access to education and jobs.
Poppy Dihardjo from the Community of Women without Stigma, a single parent, initiated the inclusion of the mother's name on school certificates. A Change.org petition on this initiative has garnered more than 16,000 signatures.
In response, the government, through Circular No. 28/2021 on registering school certificates for primary and secondary education issued by the education ministry’s secretary-general, has allowed the use of the father’s, mother’s or guardian’s name on school certificates.
This article was translated by Hendarsyah Tarmizi.
/https%3A%2F%2Fkompas.id%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2021%2F12%2F2_1640160208.jpeg){kind=logo}
