In every situation, women and children always become one of our concerns.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi urged women to support each other’s empowerment at the commemoration of Mother's Day, which is celebrated on December 22 every year.

“All women with their respective professions and backgrounds must cooperate, collaborate, and be the main actors in empowering women and defending their own rights," she remarked in a video message on Wednesday.

The message was played at a virtual event organized by non-governmental organization Mitra Seni Indonesia on ‘Roles of Indonesian Women from Time to Time’ on the national day, which marks the opening day of the first Indonesian Women’s Congress, held from December 22–25, 1928.

Women's issues have been one of Indonesia's foreign policy focuses at various international forums, the minister said.

“In every situation, women and children always become one of our concerns. I will continue to bring the issue through the implementation of Indonesia's foreign policy," she added.
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She said she believed that women's empowerment needs to be continuously encouraged since women have always been part of solutions to crises throughout history.

Empowering Indonesian women can also encourage the advancement of the nation, she noted.

Marsudi is one of the six women ministers in President Joko Widodo's ‘Indonesia Moving Forward’ Cabinet. She has held the position since 2014.

The five other ministers are Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati, Social Affairs Minister Tri Rismaharini, Manpower Minister Ida Fauziyah, Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya, and Women's Empowerment and Child Protection Minister Bintang Puspayoga.

Marsudi recorded her message in Islamabad, Pakistan, where she was attending an emergency meeting of the foreign ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) regarding the situation in Afghanistan.

She informed that the ministers have agreed to gather support and assistance to help the Afghan people.
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Translator: Aria Cindyara, Uyu Liman
Editor: Suharto
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