REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, MALANG -- Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection, Yohana Susana Yembise deplored the fact that the number of women in politics, especially in parliament is very low. She encouraged women to get involved in politics, such as at House of Representatives (DPR), Regional Representative Council (DPD), or become regional leaders.

Yohana explained currently the number of women in Indonesia was around 126 million and men 129 million. Although women were still outnumbered, she believed women are national’s asset.

“The fact is men still dominate in most sectors,” said Yohana on Thursday (Aug 2).

Based on 2014 general election, women’s representation in the House of Representatives was 17,32 percent or 97 female legislative members from total 560 lawmaker. At Regional Legislative Council (DPRD) levels, it only reached 16,43 percent or 350 people from 2,130 members.

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The representation of women in the Regency / City DPRD was 14 percent or 2,296 people from a total of 16,883 members of Regency / City DPRD in Indonesia. At the senate level or DPD it was 25.74 percent or 34 women from 132 senators.

These figures, said Yohana, were still far from the limit as stipulated in law stating that the parliamentary seat should be filled by women about 30 percent. Meanwhile, for the regional head post, Yohana explained, 86 seats were available to be occupied by women in 511 districts / cities. The existing figure was still far from the target of 100 female heads of regions throughout Indonesia.

According to Yohana, the existence of women in as leaders and parliament members was very important. She assessed women have better undestanding on how to deliver the voice of women and children. Moreover, she continued, the problems and cases involving women and children were still high.

Yohana said in order to support women’s representation, she has prepared a number of efforts. First, Grand Design of Women's Representation Enhancement in 2019 general election has been compiled. It also stipulated in Minister of Women Empowerment and Child Protection Regulation No. 10/2015.

Furthermore, Yohana has also made MoU with Ministry of Home Affairs. The ministries committed together to carry out massive political education in order to boost women to be lawmaker in 2019.

There was also MoU with General Election Commission (KPU) and Election Supervisory Board (Bawaslu), in order to guard the policy to affirm 30 percent of women representation. Ministry of Women Empowerment and Child Protection would also provide political training to several campuses in 34 provinces. Women were given modules that are expected to attract them to enter politics.

“We also collaborate with NGOs to lure women into politics," said Yohana.

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