Fajarasia.co – Chairman of the Indonesian House of Representatives Puan Maharani met with the President of the United Nations General Assembly (UN), Abdullah Shahid on the sidelines of The 7th Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GPDRR) 2022. At the meeting, Abdullah Shahid provided support for the role of women in political field.
“I support that women play a role in politics and be involved in decision-making, both at the national and international levels,” Abdullah Shahid said in a bilateral meeting with Puan which took place at the Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center (BNDCC), Bali, Thursday (26/5). /2022).
Not only that, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Maldives also supports women to become the highest leaders in public organizations. Abdullah also mentioned that there has never been a UN Secretary General who has come from women.
“And only 4 Presidents of the UN General Assembly were women during the 76 years the UN was founded. So I hope and support that the next UN Secretary General will be a woman,” said the world figure who was once the Chair of the Maldives Parliament.
Puan also welcomed the support from Abdullah Shahid. According to him, now is the time for women to play a more active role in politics.
“And also holds high positions in public positions, both at the national and international levels,” said Puan.
To the President of the UN General Assembly, the former Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture emphasized that Indonesia has a strong commitment to women’s empowerment and gender equality. Puan stated that many women in Indonesia have held high public positions.
“Indonesia already has a female President; Coordinating Minister for women; women ministers; Women MPs; Governors, Mayors, and Regents are women,” he explained.
“I am the first woman to become the Chair of the Indonesian House of Representatives and the youngest Chair of the Indonesian Parliament in the history of Indonesia,” continued Puan.
Puan also mentioned the issue of Indonesia adopting a 30% quota rule for female members in the people’s representative institutions. Then also, said Puan, on membership in political parties and electoral institutions.
“This facilitates the trend of increasing women’s electability in legislative elections. In the 2019 election, of the 575 DPR members, 118 of them were women. Currently, the number of female members in the DPR is 120 people, or 21 percent of all members of the DPR,” she explained.
On the occasion, Puan also mentioned that the DPR had just passed the Gender-based Criminal Act of Sexual Violence (TPKS). He said the TPKS Law was a state support for women who were often victims of sexual violence.
“This is an important breakthrough in setting comprehensive procedural law as well as recognizing and guaranteeing the rights of victims,” said Puan.
It was also conveyed that the DPR has instituted a Women’s Caucus which focuses on women’s political empowerment programs through advocacy that is carried out to encourage 30% representation of women in political institutions. In addition, Puan explained that the DPR Women’s Caucus also aims to increase the political capacity of women parliamentarians.
“This national commitment also requires a strong commitment at the international level. I know that the current Presidency of Hope from the President of the UN High School also includes strengthening gender equality,” said the grandson of the Proclaimer of the Republic of Indonesia, Bung Karno.
“Therefore, I am ready to work with His Majesty to advance the discussion of gender issues in various international forums, including the P20 discussion,” concluded Puan.****
