Around 150 delegates coming from 18 countries attended the general assembly taking place at the Grand Inna Malioboro Hotel, which is located in Yogyakarta`s iconic tourist site with spacious sidewalks and shops, from September 12 to 20.
Along with more than one thousand women activists participating in the National Meeting of One Thousand Indonesian Women`s Organizations, they share ideas for the advancement of women in education, business, and other sectors.
Through a series of programs during the nine-day event, the ICW general assembly participants and their Indonesian colleagues also attempt to find ways to make the ICW`s triennial theme of "transforming society through women`s empowerment" come true.
Among the delegates come from South Africa, Australia, Bangladesh, Belgium, Fiji, the Philippines, Finland, India, Indonesia, South Korea, Lebanon, Malta, Papua New Guinea, France, New Zealand, Nigeria, Singapore, Switzerland, and Turkey.
The delegate of Taiwan is also present.
The opening session was also attended by Minister of State-Owned Enterprises Rini Soemarno, top government officials, several CEOs, members of board of directors, and members of board of supervisors of state-owned companies supporting this event.
The Indonesian World Records Museum (MURI) is also scheduled to submit a new documented Indonesian record to Kowani for its success in mobilizing women activists representing one thousand organizations across the country.
MURI is also handing over another documented new Indonesian record to Minister Rini Soemarno for recognizing her as a women`s movement figure in the country.
During the opening session, Minister Rini Soemarno, ICW President Jungsook Kim, and Kowani Chairperson Giwo Rubianto Wiyogo delivered their speeches.
In her speech, Rini Soemarno said the Indonesian women`s positions have highly been recognized for their achievements. Several of them are appointed by President Joko Widodo as his cabinet members. Among the CEOs of state-owned companies are also women.
Meanwhile, according to Head of the Organizing Committee of the 35th ICW General Assembly and National Meeting of One Thousand Indonesian Women`s Organizations Gatot Subagio, President Joko Widodo would attend the opening ceremony on Friday.
"We are still waiting for further information on the Head of State`s presence," he said.
For this Yogyakarta event, the ICW carries a theme of "transforming society through women`s empowerment" while Kowani carries a theme of "90 years of the struggle of Indonesian women as a genuine mother of the nation for making a victorious Indonesia".
The convening of the 35th ICW General Assembly and the National Meeting of One Thousand Indonesian Women`s Organizations is held in coincidence with 130 years of the ICW`s existence and 90 years of the Kowani`s presence.
Reporting by Budi Setiawanto
Editing by Rahmad Nasution/Bambang Purwanto
Reporter: Antara
Editor: Gusti Nur Cahya Aryani
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
