"Women's economic resilience is one of the (keys for realizing) women's empowerment and gender equality. Therefore, empowering women in entrepreneurship while employing a gender perspective is one of the priority issues that must be resolved by the Women's Empowerment and Child Protection Ministry until 2024, in accordance with the President's directives," Minister Puspayoga said here on Wednesday.
She made the statement during a webinar on sustainable development goals, which was joined by tens of thousands of Mekaar (Membina Keluarga Sejahtera, or Leading Family Towards Prosperity) customers via virtual means.
Mekaar is a capital loan service initiated in 2015 by PT Permodalan Nasional Madani (PNM), a state-owned company in the financial sector. It aims to assist women running ultra micro businesses.
Women's empowerment through entrepreneurship by employing a gender perspective would be the starting point for addressing several other priority issues since economically empowered women can free themselves from all forms of violence, assist in eliminating early marriage and child labor, and provide high-quality and equal care for the growth and development of children, the minister explained.
Puspayoga also urged everyone to actively contribute to eliminating patriarchal practices, especially those that impede women from accessing opportunities.
This is vital because women are a force in all aspects of life.
The minister lauded the 30 thousand women Mekaar customers for working so hard and fighting for their businesses all along.
"You are the spearhead of the nation's development to achieve advanced Indonesia. Keep on fighting, trying, and prove that if women have the ability and work hard, there is nothing (they can not do) and (nothing) is impossible," she remarked.
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Translator: Anita P D, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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