Patriarchy is Still Institutionalized, Women's Participation in Development Planning is Minimal

Women continue to experience various kinds of violence. Having a voice in development planning is very important for women.

SONYA HELLEN SINOMBOR

Minister of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection (PPPA) I Gusti Ayu Bintang Darmawati, in April 2023, attended the National Women's Congress (Musnas) for Development Planning. The event was held in a hybrid format at the Luwansa Hotel in Jakarta.

The efforts of civil society organizations to encourage women's participation in development planning continue to receive government support. After successfully holding the first National Women's Conference for Development Planning or Women's National Conference in Jakarta in 2023, this year the second Women's National Conference was held again in Badung Regency, Bali.

The 2nd Women's National Conference in 2024 will be held by several civil society organizations that are part of Mitra INKLUSI (a cooperation program between the Indonesian and Australian governments), along with the Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection (PPPA) and the Directorate of Family, Women, Children, Youth, and Sports of the National Development Planning Agency (Kementerian PPN/Bappenas), on April 19-20, 2024 at the Giri Nata Mandala Building, Sempidi, Mengwi, Badung.

As for the partner organizations of INKLUSI that organized the second National Women's Congress, they include Women Head of Household Empowerment (Pekka), Migrant Care, Institute for Women's Alternative Education (Kapal), Aisyiyah, Bakti Knowledge Exchange Center of Eastern Indonesia, Indonesian Women's Head of Household (PKBI), Sasana Inklusi and Disability Advocacy Movement (Sigab), Partnership, Institute for Human Resources Development Studies and Research (Lakpesdam), Yakkum Christian Foundation Rehabilitation Center for Public Health, as well as Sumatran Women Capable (Permampu).

Also read: Make Sure to Participate in Development, Thousands of Women Participate in National Conference

A meeting forum that will be attended by women, people with disabilities, and other marginalized groups from 477 villages, 163 districts, and 35 provinces will also be held online.

The Second Women's Congress in 2024 will accommodate active and meaningful participation of women, persons with disabilities, and marginalized groups through the process of gathering aspirations through national-level deliberations or consultations. In addition, another agenda is to formulate and analyze other nine important agendas.

ISTIMEWA/MIGRANT CARE

The Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection, together with Bappenas and civil society organizations, will hold the Women's National Conference in 2024 in Badung, Bali. Acting Secretary of the Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection, Titi Eko Rahayu, provided a presentation during a virtual press conference on Tuesday (16/4/2024).

As for the nine agendas, they are women's poverty (social protection), women workers, eradication of child marriage, women's economy, women's leadership, women's health, women and the environment, violence against women and children, and women and children facing the law.

Acting Secretary of the Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection, Titi Eko Rahayu, revealed that the background of holding the second National Women's Congress in 2024 is due to the meaningful participation still being a crucial issue for women, children, persons with disabilities, and other marginalized groups.

"The lack of meaningful participation can be seen in three aspects, at least quantitatively indicating a small number of participations or representations in strategic decision-making institutions," said Titi on Wednesday (April 17, 2024).

The increase in the gender inequality index has also not been significant and the female labor force participation rate has also not increased.

Previously, during a dialogue with the media, Titi along with several leaders of civil society organizations that partner with INKLUSI also emphasized that proposals representing the interests of women, children, persons with disabilities, and marginalized groups have been very minimal. Moreover, their bargaining position is weak in influencing decision-making.

Another challenge is the culture of patriarchy which is still institutionalized in perspectives, daily life procedures, in policies at various levels in the socio-cultural, economic, political and decision-making sectors.

In Indonesia's bottom up development planning system with a musrenbang process from village to national, there should be ample opportunity to voice interests. However, in reality, there is barely any space to be involved in decision making, making women's participation in development minimal.

On the other hand, until now, women, children, people with disabilities, and other marginalized groups are still facing various issues, such as violence, child marriage, and high maternal and child mortality rates. Meanwhile, the Human Development Index (HDI) for women is still far behind men, and the increase in the Gender Inequality Index has not been significant, and the participation rate of women in the workforce has not increased.

However, Indonesia has policy modalities, budgeting, and implementation that show some progress. In fact, at present, there are a number of good collaborative practices between civil society organizations and the government. The presence of civil society organizations with competence in knowledge, integrity, reputation, collective strength, networks, and mass support has pushed a number of agendas that have been hidden so far.

Disabled women

Ninik Heca from Sigap revealed that disabled female workers have faced several challenges in accessing job vacancy information. When working, they face stigma and discrimination in the workplace. However, rarely has anyone disclosed such conditions.

Also read: Strengthening Women's Education, Investing in Development

"Discrimination is also reflected in the provision of accessible facilities which are still very rare, thus hindering disabled women from entering comfortable work environments. Furthermore, there is still a lack of understanding among businesses and agencies regarding the quota for employing disabled individuals, with a requirement of 2 percent in government positions and 1 percent in private companies," said Ninik.

Husnawati from Mitra Bakti describes the increasing violence towards women and children, but it is not recorded as there are many unreported cases. Not to mention, sexual violence in the online world.

"Until now, cases of violence against women and children have not received BPJS services, resulting in some hospitals referring to them as accident cases," said Husnawati.

Just like the first Women's National Conference in 2023, Misiyah from Kapal Perempuan hopes that this second conference will become a joint channel for the aspirations of women, people with disabilities, and marginalized groups. They have not been able to enter the existing planning channels until now.

"In fact, Indonesia is very good at having bottom up, but not everything can be accommodated," he said.

Also read: Involve Women as Development Subjects

Therefore, a special forum for this national congress was established. This forum also aims specifically for gender equality, equal rights for people with disabilities, and other marginalized groups to be able to live inclusively in Indonesia.

KOMPAS/RONY ARIYANTO NUGROHO

A poster containing the message of action brought by female laborers during the International Women's Day commemoration in the area of the Arjuna Wijaya Statue, Jakarta, on Friday (8/3/2024).

Regarding changes in national leadership, civil society organizations hope that the continuity of collaboration on women's issues will continue on a wider scale. Therefore, it is important to monitor and ensure that the interests and aspirations of women and vulnerable groups are included in the development planning process.

The Women's National Congress on April 17-18, 2023 was attended by approximately 3,000 women from various regions in Indonesia. The event was attended by the Minister of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection, I Gusti Ayu Bintang Darmawati.

The National Conference raised issues of gender, women and children with diverse conditions and social, economic, demographic, regional and other backgrounds from a GEDSI (gender equality, disability and social inclusion) perspective.