TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Surabaya Mayor Tri Rismaharini has conveyed a declaration at the United Nation Habitat conference in Quito, Equador on Sunday, October 16, local time. As many as 40,000 UN delegates join the event with a theme of Housing and City Planning Development.

At the declaration, Risma said it was time for the UN members to take a full participation, including to involve women in getting the same rights in a leadership at regional government. “Gender equality, first and foremost, is a part of a human right and social justice. Women’s chances to participate should not be limited,” she said.

According to her, every woman shall obtain the rights to get a proper education, to express cultural activities, as well as to actively participate in the economy and politic sectors; equal to men. She added the gender equality would result in the life’s harmony since it is a foundation of sustainable development.

"Woman in a local democratic system have an important role. We need more woman candidates in regional elections in our regions, more woman mayors, and governors who will lead a city/district. We also need more local leaders that could be a representative in a forum like Habitat III,” Risma said.

Public Works and Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono also join Risma as the Indonesian government representatives. Several mayors of UN member states such as from Istanbul-Turki, Dakar, Montreal-Kanada, Barcelona-Spanyol, Pichincha, Tehran, Mexico, and Thimphu also conveyed the declaration.

DESTRIANITA