Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesian women played a strategic role in pushing the country towards advancement, Women's Empowerment and Child Protection Minister, Bintang Puspayoga, stated.

"Full participation of Indonesian women, who must be equal to men, is very important in pushing Indonesia towards advancements," Puspayoga stated at the virtual event to commemorate National Mother's Day, as seen here on Wednesday.

Despite the challenges that come and go, Indonesian women are still able to salvage the country from various difficulties when micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) owned by women are able to keep the national economy afloat.

In times such as this, MSMEs, managed by women, could serve as a collective hope to escape the economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the minister noted.

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The minister remarked that women were not only saviors of the national economy but also possessed skills in various professional sectors.

Puspayoga recalled that almost every woman she met during the course of her career worked for the sake of others' prosperity, such as for their families, their community, and even their country.

The commemoration of Mother's Day on December 22 should be a time to look back and reflect on the struggles of Indonesian women in fighting for their rights and equality at the First Women's Congress in Yogyakarta.

The minister lauded Indonesia Art Partner (Mitra Seni Indonesia) for the various efforts made in showcasing the identity of Indonesian women, especially through the preservation of national arts and culture.

MSI is a social, non-profit, and non-political association, with more than 882 members. Almost 97 percent of the members are women of various professional backgrounds that have come together and united to preserve and develop Indonesian arts and culture.

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Translator: Martha H S, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Suharto
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