The government continues to guarantee efforts to prevent, control, assist, and provide access to services for women and children through various policies that favor vulnerable groups
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Women's empowerment and gender equality are the government's priorities in efforts towards national development, Minister of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection, Bintang Puspayoga, has emphasized.

"Women are part of the five priority issues directed by President Joko Widodo, namely increasing women's empowerment in entrepreneurship, increasing the role of mothers in children's education, reducing violence against women and children, reducing child labor, and preventing child marriage," she said in a press statement here on Friday.

She made the statement at the Coordination Meeting for the Preparation of Constructive Dialogue with the CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women) Committee, held by the Ministry of Law and Human Rights in collaboration with the Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jakarta.

Indonesia is committed to protecting women's rights, especially to eliminating all forms of discrimination against women, as stated in the Constitution and various laws, Puspayoga said.

Gender mainstreaming strategies have been integrated into short, medium, and long-term national development plans, she pointed out.

Indonesia has also included women as one of the priority groups in the National Action Plan for Human Rights 2021-2025, she added.

Puspayoga expressed gratitude for the involvement of all stakeholders, especially representatives from the National Human Rights Institute (NHRI) and Civil Society Organizations (CSO).

Amid the challenges of the global pandemic, the government is committed to fulfilling and providing protections for women's and girls' rights, she stressed.

"During the COVID-19 pandemic, the government continues to provide and encourage efforts to fulfill and protect the rights of women and girls. The government continues to guarantee efforts to prevent, control, assist, and provide access to services for women and children through various policies that favor vulnerable groups," she said.

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Translator: Anita Permata, Raka Adji
Editor: Sri Haryati
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