Jakarta (ANTARA) - The National Commission on Violence against Women (Komnas Perempuan) welcomes the placement of several policewomen to strategic positions within the National Police (Polri).

"I expect that this becomes a positive signal for women's leadership that is becoming more progressive within Polri," the Commission's Chairperson Andy Yentriyani noted through a written statement on Wednesday.

Earlier, the Police's Public Relations Division Head Inspector General Dedi Prasetyo announced that several policewomen were promoted to strategic positions.

Chief of National Police General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, as described in a telegram letter, promoted several policewomen to fill strategic positions in the Bhayangkara Corps.

In future, the commission expects policewomen to be trusted to assume the mantle of Regional Police Chief (Kapolda).

"With this strategic appointment, we expect many more policewomen to be appointed to strategic command posts, including becoming the Kapolda," she remarked.

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In addition to welcoming this news, Yentriyani expects that in future, the recruitment of policewomen will be bolstered in terms of quantity, as they are required in several work units.

Moreover, the commission expects Prabowo to form the Violence Against Women Directorate soon.

This directorate is important to anticipate submitted reports as part of the implementation of the Sexual Crime Prevention Law.

This includes the effort to ensure access to justice for women.

In addition to this promotion, the commission welcomed the six-month maternity leave implementation discourse within the Mother and Child Prosperity Bill (RUU KIA), Yentriyani noted on Friday.

However, the commission emphasized that in the event of the idea being implemented, an assurance should be made that women's careers would not be affected, as they will be on leave for half a year.

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Translator: M Zulfikar, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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