By applying gender-responsive approaches to economic recovery policy, we can build a better, stronger, more inclusive, and equitable economyJakarta (ANTARA) - Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection, Bintang Puspayoga, led the Indonesian delegation at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Women and the Economy Forum (APEC WEF) 2021, organized virtually from Wellington, New Zealand. Women have played a significant role in driving national and global economic recovery during the COVID-19 pandemic and thus, gender-responsive and inclusive economic recovery is needed, the minister said in a written statement released on Saturday.
“The heads of state at the APEC Informal Leaders Retreat held last July highlighted collective responsibilities for setting the target of steps to support inclusive recovery in the Asia-Pacific region, including expanding women’s opportunities to enable them to fully participate in the global economic recovery process,” she added.
Women make up almost half of Indonesia's population, which has reached 270.2 million, and 53.6 percent of them belong to the productive age group, she pointed out.
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In addition, 90 percent of the 65.4 million micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Indonesia are engaged in micro-businesses, and more than half of the micro-businesses are owned by women, she informed.
The data suggest that women have huge potential to drive economic recovery, including during the COVID-19 pandemic, Puspayoga said.
“By applying gender-responsive approaches to economic recovery policy, we can build a better, stronger, more inclusive, and equitable economy,” she added.
According to the minister, Indonesia is giving priority to its program targeting vulnerable groups of women who have borne the brunt of the pandemic, including family chiefs, disaster survivors, and violence survivors.
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“We are pushing the women to change their conventional businesses through digital transformation for the benefit of their businesses’ continuation. The effort is also part of the implementation of the La Serena Roadmap for Women and Inclusive Growth 2019-2030, particularly the main action: to empower women by improving their access to capital and market,” she said.
She highlighted the establishment of women-and child-friendly villages in Indonesia to implement the ministry;s five priority programs, as almost half of Indonesian women and children reside in villages.
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Translator: Indriani, Suharto
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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