We hope legislators will consider affirmative action by allocating 30 percent of the total positions offered to women candidates during the fit and proper test
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Commission II of the House of Representatives (DPR RI) must consider women's representation while performing the fit and proper test for selecting commissioners for electoral bodies, a women's advocacy group has said.

At a webinar broadcast on Rumah Pemilu's YouTube channel on Tuesday, coordinator of Onward Indonesian Women (MPI) Lena Maryana Mukti urged legislators to ensure 30 percent women's representation while selecting commissioners for the General Elections Commission (KPU) and the General Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu).

"We hope legislators will consider affirmative action by allocating 30 percent of the total positions offered to women candidates during the fit and proper test," she said.

She expressed the hope that the fulfillment of the 30 percent quota for women's representation would influence electoral bodies' policies and decisions and make them more accommodating to women's interests.

Women's involvement in the decision-making process in the electoral commissions is essential to ensure women's voices are heard in the national election conduct, she added.

In view of the competency of women candidates, Commission II legislators must fully consider women's participation in the KPU and Bawaslu by appointing women commissioners, she reiterated.

"We had observed the interview process of several women candidates for the KPU and Bawaslu commissioners, and we see that all women who participated in the selection process have an adequate knowledge, personal capacity, and integrity for the job," Mukti, who also serves as Indonesia's Ambassador for Kuwait, remarked.

She also expressed confidence that more women will participate in the national electoral process as they have proven they have the competency to serve as commissioners for national electoral bodies.

"We believe women who have participated in the fit and proper test process are ready to preside over electoral bodies, either at national, provincial, or regional levels," Mukti said.

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Translator: Putu Indah S, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Sri Haryati
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