"Women's way of thinking, aspirations, and needs are different from men's. The more women are represented, the (more) policies will lead to the protection of women and children," deputy assistant for gender mainstreaming for political and legal affairs at the ministry, Dermawan, said in Pariaman, West Sumatra, on Monday.
He delivered the statement during a discussion on gender equality, themed “Improving the Role of Women in Politics and Decision-Making,” the ministry's partnership program with House of Representatives member John Kenedy Azis.
He said that the government's policies to protect and mainstream gender equality have currently made a lot of progress, yet there is a lot of scope for improvement so that women become confident and knowledgeable enough so they can be chosen as decision-makers.
A lack of confidence and knowledge has led to low women’s representation in the legislature, including in Padang Pariaman district, where none of the 40 members of the Regional House of Representatives are women.
"We (offer) technical guidance for women every year at the village scope so that women with potential do not only (hold a position) in the legislature, but also in traditional and other institutions," he said.
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According to a member of the House of Representatives from the Golkar faction, John Kenedy Azis, there is a chance that women could be elected as members of the House of Representatives in West Sumatra. This can be seen from fact that four women were elected to the House of Representatives for the 2019–2024 period.
Azis said that women in Minangkabau could get elected by becoming active in community activities and getting ready to seek solutions to any community issue.
"Don't be pessimistic. Try to get closer to the community so that the presence is (seen) by the community," he advised.
There are many women who have become members of the Regional House of Representatives, and even become leaders in West Sumatra, which, according to him, could be a motivation for women in Padang Pariaman to run for legislative positions in the 2024 election.
Meanwhile, head of the Padang Pariaman district, Suhatri Bur, said that women have the same political rights as men; even the state has issued a regulation under which 30 percent of candidates proposed by a party must be women.
There are a number of reasons for the low representation of women in the Padang Pariaman House of Representatives, Bur said. They include a feeling of limitation in the scope of activities or work, the notion that women must stay at home, and the belief that their role is only to give birth and take care of the household.
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Translator: Altas Maulana, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Suharto
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