Strengthening Synergy of Indonesian Feminism Studies and Activism Through Annual Kartini Conference

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - This year, the Annual Kartini Conference on Indonesian Feminisms will be held for the second time, the conference will be dubbed as "the 2nd Annual Kartini Conference on Indonesian Feminisms", or the 2024 KCIF.

The KCIF is a meeting space for ideas about feminism which is held every year to exchange knowledge from research and studies on various themes of Indonesian feminism, sharing advocacy experiences, as well as personal reflections.

The 2024 KCIF is held virtually via Zoom starting from June 24 to 30, 2024 by A Consortium for Plural and Inclusive Indonesian Feminisms which consists of two institutions, namely LETSS Talk (Let's Talk about SEX n SEXUALITIES) and Konde.co.

The 2024 KCIF has the theme "Strengthening the Synergy of Indonesian Feminism Studies and Activism amidst National Oligarchy Politics and Global Fascism", according to Farid Muttaqin, the Chair of the 2024 KCIF Conference.

"Strengthening the socio-political situation, both local, national and global, which does not always support, and even conflicts with, the feminist agendas," he said, in a press release received by Tempo on Monday, June 24, 2024.

"The humanitarian crises in Palestine, Ukraine, Rohingya, Uighurs, Afghanistan, with the most victims from vulnerable groups, such as women, children, people with disabilities, gender and sexual minorities, and lower socio-economic classes, emphasize the feminist agenda for justice and human rights that never ends," he said.

Farid continued that, on the other hand, "feminist politics" is a contemporary movement that causes feminism to not only increasingly take on many forms, but also gives rise to contestation and conflict in the name of ideology, history and political interests, among feminists themselves. As a result, for the most tragic human tragedies such as Palestine, feminism has not yet demonstrated a solid vision and mission, to fight colonialism, racism and genocide.

"We are witnessing and experiencing the strengthening of national oligarchy and global fascism which is a contemporary threat to humanity, justice and freedom," he stated.

According to Farid, these political developments do not lead to achieving or strengthening the desired goals of the feminist movement, such as gender justice, freedom to express gender identity and articulate sexuality, and fighting for feminist ideas.

"Traditional" feminist agendas, such as human rights, gender justice, inclusivity in gender diversity, sexual and queer diversity, reproductive justice, climate justice, if they do not receive resistance and challenges, then he said that they will not become a popular agenda and will even become mere become a "comfortable" subject to voice without worrying about being bullied, said Farid.

"Religious and cultural conservatism, political extremism, and the depoliticization of digital politics are becoming new sources of socio-political phenomena that are counterproductive to the feminist agenda," he said again.

In global politics, Farid added, in the name of the anti-Woke movement, the extreme Right-Wing and Far-Right political groups carried out out anti-transgender and even anti-gender propaganda.

In the 2024 elections, human rights, gender justice, reproductive justice, climate justice, and other feminist agendas, for example, were not at all crucial and determining factors in influencing the election process so that it becomes a project to rebuild a nation-state that respects human rights and has strong political will on feminist agendas. "On the contrary, human rights and feminist agendas have become marginal factors and even 'shrink' electability," he explained.

"We want to invite all of us to contribute to building a saner world, which emphasizes empathy and solidarity," he said again.

According to him, political elitism based on oligarchy and fascism is a threat to the feminist movement in fighting for justice in all aspects of life.

"When anti-feminist oligarchs, fascists and feudal elites weaken with various discriminatory, oppressive, offensive, racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic, queerphobic, misogynist actions, we continue to strive to reach high levels by spreading empathy, tolerance, inclusiveness, solidarity and non-violence," said Farid.

The 2nd Annual Kartini Conference on Indonesian Feminisms is the second Indonesian feminist conference after the first KCIF in 2023, which was also held virtually.

TEMPO.CO

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