TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Female voters are asked to think rationally yet courageous upon voting for a competent legislative candidate that supports for the interest of women and children.

“Indonesian female voters should not vote for a legislative candidate and public official member that is detached from the numerous problems faced by women and children in Indonesia,” said Steffi Graf Gabi, the Coordinator of the Women's Anti-Corruption and Anti-Intolerance Study Network (Jaring Milea).

She urges female voters to think twice and hard before casting their votes. Steffi called for women to not be apathetic or pragmatic in voting. “You should be active and prepared to be a smart voter,” she said.

The National Commission on Violence against Women (Komnas Perempuan) 2018 report saw 348, 446 cases of violence against women, and 4,885 cases of children’s rights violations. She reminded that exploitation against women at their workplace still exists in the form of numerous paid leave for women who are on their period, the right to breastfeed, and the baby’s rights that have yet been realized.

“The State, especially its legislative organizations have not seriously responded to the numerous problems faced by women and children,” she said. “The ratification of the proposed sexual violence eradication bill (RUU) is one of the structural solutions upon preventing sexual violence.”

ANTARA