"I invite all Indonesian women to support each other, learn from each other, motivate each other, inspire each other, and help each other. Women should not tear each other down," Puspayoga noted as per a statement from her ministry on Tuesday.
The minister made the remarks at the 95th Mother's Day commemoration roadshow event in Denpasar, Bali, on Monday (December 18).
Puspayoga expressed hope that the annual commemoration of Mother's Day would encourage all stakeholders and the wider community to pay attention and recognize the importance of the existence of women in various development sectors.
"Mother's Day is a special and important day as a reminder for the community and us all to remain consistent in continuing women's struggle to fulfill their rights and achieve gender equality," she remarked.
She affirmed that a long journey still had to be covered in order to achieve the goal of equality between Indonesian women and men, where there is no gender-based discrimination.
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Several indices and data show that huge inequality still exists between men and women, as shown in the Human Development Index, Gender Development Index, and Gender Empowerment Index, among others.
According to Puspayoga, this condition is the basis for the recognition of the existence of women that remains the main topic at every Mother's Day celebration in Indonesia.
Indonesia celebrates Mother's Day every December 22.
Since 2018, Mother's Day in Indonesia has been celebrated with the theme of "Empowered Women, Advanced Indonesia" and a sub-theme that is adjusted each year.
This year, the sub-theme is "Women speak out, women are empowered and creative, women care, and women and the revolution."
In 2023, the commemoration event was held in three areas. For Eastern Indonesia, it was held in West Papua on November 18, while for Western Indonesia, it was held in Aceh on November 22.
Meanwhile, for Central Indonesia, it was held in Bali on December 18.
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Translator: Anita Permata, Raka Adji
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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