Jakarta (ANTARA) - Women's Empowerment and Child Protection (PPPA) Minister Bintang Puspayoga emphasized the need for synergy and collaboration from all stakeholders to expedite the realization of development goals of child protection and women's empowerment.

"It requires synergy and collaboration from all stakeholders, both at the central and regional levels, legislative institutions, judiciary, community institutions, business world, mass media, academics, non-governmental organizations, religious leaders, traditional leaders, and community leaders," she stated at the National Coordination Meeting on Women's Empowerment and Child Protection in Bogor, West Java, Wednesday.

Puspayoga remarked that 2024 is the final year for the implementation of the 2020-2024 National Mid-Term Development Plan (RPJMN) and in line with the theme of the 78th Anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia "Continue to Move for an Advanced Indonesia," which is interpreted as an effort to accelerate the achievement of development goals.

"Therefore, we must push for efforts to accelerate the achievement of the development goals of women's empowerment and child protection," she stressed.

The minister noted that the country still has much work to do in order to improve the quality of women human resources and the role of women in development.

Related news: Empowered mothers can fulfill children's rights: Ministry

According to Puspayoga, the value of the Human Development Index (HDI) for women was 70.31 in 2022, still much lower than the HDI for men of 76.73. Moreover, the Gender Empowerment Index (IDG) is still at 76.59.

This was followed by the Labor Force Participation Rate (TPAK) for women at 61.82 percent, still much lower than that of men recorded at 86.37 percent.

In addition, Puspayoga remarked that Indonesia continues to face challenges in fulfilling children's rights. In 2021, the Child Protection Index (IPA) value was at 61.38, still far from the target of 100 points. The achievement was also lower than the achievement in 2019 or before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Another challenge faced by Indonesia is the efforts to prevent, eradicate, and handle human trafficking cases, she stated.

"In order to protect women and children as victims of violence and human trafficking, encouraging victims or the public to report and providing integrated comprehensive services across institutions for victims is still our shared responsibility," she affirmed.

Related news: Women, child protection directorate formation still on: Polri

Related news: Minister underlines importance of women, child protection directorate

Translator: Anita Permata D, Resinta S
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
Copyright © ANTARA 2023