UCAN: Promote gender equality beginning with family, gov't minister urges Catholics

KUPANG, Indonesia (UCAN) - Indonesia's minister for women empowerment recently called on Catholics to join in the government's program to promote gender equality, starting with the family.

Speaking to about 300 participants at a Jan. 27 public forum, Meutia Hatta Swasono said that gender inequality is prevalent in Indonesian society. "Unjust and discriminatory treatment of women makes them powerless," said Minister Hatta. The daughter of the late Muhammad Hatta, former vice president of Indonesia, was the sole speaker at the forum on "Gender Mainstreaming, Justice and Peace." The event, at the St. Mary Assumption Parish hall in Kupang, was jointly organized by Kupang Archdiocese's Commission for Justice and Peace, Commission for Youth, Catholic Women of the Republic of Indonesia, the Catholic organization Women's Partnership Network and the provincial office of the Women Empowerment Affairs Ministry. Kupang, capital of East Nusa Tenggara province, is 1,870 kilometers (about 1,160 miles) east of Jakarta. More than 50 percent of the province's population are Catholics, while nearly 40 percent are Protestants. Hatta asserted that women, who constitute 52 percent of Indonesia's 220 million people, have strategic and significant roles to play in national development. "Women need and have an obligation to participate in development, and have the right to enjoy the benefits that development brings. But for that, they need empowerment and recognition of their rights and roles," she said. The minister called on all organizations and institutions concerned about women's issues to establish a support network for executing empowerment programs, and for addressing injustices against women. "But it would be more appropriate if the empowerment of women starts from the smallest community, the family, where men should also be involved," she said. She admitted that reducing bias against women is not easy and would take time. Hatta said her ministry is determined to ensure gender equality in all its legal products, programs and development activities. "The poor quality of life of many women results from gender bias in the family, society and state. Gender bias means injustice, and in injustice there is no peace," she said, reminding participants that the scriptures of various religions call for the promotion of justice and equality for men and women. Meanwhile, Martha Dahlia Pengko, who heads Catholic Women of the Republic of Indonesia (WKRI, Indonesian acronym) in Kupang Archdiocese, lamented that local women are still being marginalized. Speaking with UCA News during the forum, the laywoman said that there has been an increase in documented cases of domestic violence, sexual harassment and gender bias. Local women still lack opportunities to get more involved in fields such as politics, education and health, she added. In the local political arena, for example, women head only two out of 17 local government offices. Furthermore, she said, society does not place priority on educating girls, quoting a common saying, "It is useless for women to acquire higher education because they will eventually go back to the kitchen." Also, in the health field, she observed, the rate of maternal mortality is still high, 307 per 100,000 births as of 2003. In response, Pengko said her organization has launched advocacy and socialization movements on gender sensitivity, domestic violence and HIV/AIDS, in coordination with Basic Ecclesial Communities (BECs), parishes, interest groups and NGOs. Father Florentinus Maxi Bria, who heads the archdiocese's Commission for Justice and Peace, told UCA News that gender bias was chosen as the forum theme, as "any violence and injustice against women would surely" disturb the peace in society. "We hope this event will arouse people's awareness to create peace and justice," he remarked.

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Republished by Catholic Online with permission of the Union of Catholic Asian News (UCA News), the world's largest Asian church news agency (www.ucanews.com).