The Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection is advocating for enhanced political education, affirmative measures, and a review of the political framework to boost the participation of women in Indonesia's political affairs and legislative institutions.
Amurwani Dwi Lestariningsih, the Deputy for Gender Equality at the ministry, emphasized the considerable potential of women to participate in politics, particularly at the regional level.
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Lestariningsih observed that numerous studies indicate that the presence of women in parliament is confronted with a combination of structural and social obstacles.
“Even without extensive support, we have already seen how women can become political representatives and become members of the legislature,” she said during an Indonesian General Elections Commission (KPU) seminar in Jakarta.
The seminar, held to commemorate International Women’s Day, was themed “Strengthening the Role of Women in the Electoral Process as a Pillar of Substantive Democracy.”
Over the past twenty years, there have been affirmative actions put in place to enhance the presence of women in legislative institutions, ranging from the House of Representatives (DPR) to Regional Legislative Councils (DPRDs).
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However, there are disparities in the execution of these initiatives across different regions.
According to statistics provided by the ministry, it appears that a mere 25 electoral districts were able to achieve the goal of having a minimum of 30 percent female representation in the recent elections.
On the other hand, approximately 16 regions still do not have any female legislative members. She contended that the selection processes within political parties frequently result in women being placed in less advantageous roles, which consequently diminishes their prospects of winning elections.
“Women often do not receive sufficient structural support, even from within their own family environments,” she adds.
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Furthermore, she noted that in addition to entrenched systemic barriers, gender biases and societal expectations continue to impede women from fully participating in the political sphere.
She stated that, in her opinion, there remains a significant disparity between women and men as indicated by the Gender Development Index, which evaluates three interconnected factors: education, health, and economy.
Educational discrepancies are regarded as a barrier that impedes women's access to economic prospects and leadership roles. She determined that achieving greater representation of women cannot be achieved solely through formal regulations; it necessitates a transformation towards a more inclusive political system and cultural environment, facilitated by collaboration among government entities, political parties, election organizers, and civil society groups.