REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr on Monday announced around three million women would be assisted with jobs, family planning and increased protection against domestic violence as part of a 60m AUSD aid program in Indonesia, including in rural and remote settlements.

Senator Carr mentioned some progress in women's rights, education and jobs. “But there’s more to be done, especially in rural and eastern Indonesia where female literacy, income and reproductive health are poor." He said in a statement on the embassy"s website.

“The contrasts with Australia are stark – an Indonesian woman is 30 times more likely to die in childbirth, than her Australian counterpart," he said then added, many women continued to have little or no say in communal decision-making – a result of poor economic and social standing.

“That’s why we’re reaching out to three million rural women – helping them with jobs, anti-violence programs and choices on whether, when and how many children to have.

The 60 million AUSD initiative over four years will help poor women with: finding local jobs, including removing discrimination at work; social programs like health care and schooling for children so women can return to work or find new jobs; maternal and reproductive health, including contraception and family planning advice; advice and protection for women working as domestic helpers overseas; and regional services to protect women against domestic and communal violence. The initiative would be delivered by AusAID through Indonesian providers and in-country non-government organisations. Service planning would commence immediately with program delivery to start later this year.

Ikuti Whatsapp Channel Republika