Sexual Violence Crime Bill a Form of Indonesia's Commitment, Says DPR
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20 March 2022 19:31 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - House of Representatives (DPR) Speaker Puan Maharani stated that the Bill on the Crime of Sexual Violence was a form of Indonesia's commitment to protecting women and children.
She delivered the statement at the Forum of Women Parliamentarians, which is a part of the 144th Session of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) series.
Speaking before the foreign delegates, Maharani said the bill was the House's initiative to provide women and children in Indonesia with preventive and protective measures.
Maharani also said that the bill, which is currently still under deliberation, was an effort made by the state to protect sexual violence survivors or victims.
Various policies and legal products that the House of Representatives make must always apply a gender- based approach in order to ensure the fulfillment of the needs of women and other groups, she said.
"Parliament can be an agent of change in implementing a better gender equality agenda in their respective countries. In this case, Indonesia always strives to promote gender equality at every opportunity," she stressed.
Thus, the representation of women in political institutions, such as the House of Representatives, was important, because it could determine the decision-making process, including the drafting and ratification of laws that favor women's interests.
She also highlighted the inadequate level of women representation at global scope, as it was still less than 30 percent.
"In 2021, of the 73 people elected as parliament speakers worldwide, 18 of them or 24.7 percent were women. Meanwhile, the global proportion of female members of parliament has reached 26.1 percent or increased by 0.6 percent," she informed.
Thus, she encouraged IPU member countries to increase the number of women's representation in parliament.
"IPU must be at the forefront, led by example, in mainstreaming gender (aspect). IPU must be the first to encourage women's participation in decision-making," she added.
Read: Islamic Boarding Schools Can Prevent Sexual Violence Cases: Lawmaker
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