The COVID-19 pandemic has worsened women's quality of life and hampered women's productivity
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Women's Empowerment and Child Protection Minister Bintang Puspayoga stated that the COVID-19 pandemic had caused a deterioration in the quality of life of women and hindered their productivity.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has worsened women's quality of life and hampered women's productivity," Puspayoga stated at the W20 Summit, held in a hybrid format at Lake Toba, North Sumatra Province, on Tuesday.

The W20 is part of the Indonesian G20 Sherpa Track. The engagement group is focused on issues of women's development, inclusive growth, gender equality, and women's cooperation in the international economy.


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G20 is an international forum comprising 19 countries and the European Union that work together to handle major issues. Indonesia is holding the presidency of the grouping this year.

The minister noted that the worsening quality of life of women was due to the high levels of stress in the household, which led to an increase in cases of domestic violence.

"With the imbalance of power and high (level of) stress, violence against women, especially domestic violence, has also increased," she remarked.

Moreover, Puspayoga pointed out that scores of women were left with no other choice but to live with the perpetrator of violence and were cut off from their social networks.

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Pupayoga noted that the COVID-19 pandemic had also caused several women to lose their jobs and fall into poverty.

To this end, the minister deemed it crucial to empower women economically, as it will have a positive impact on them and their families.

"It is also evident that economically empowered women create a positive impact, provide their children with better nutrition, health, and education in an effort to build a sustainable society," she remarked.

The minister expressed hope that W20 can strengthen the commitment of G20 member countries to make positive changes in the efforts to empower women and create an inclusive world for all.


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Translator: Anita Permata, Raka Adji
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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