House expected to pass gender equality law soon

Antara News, Sat, February 26 2011

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The House of Representatives (DPR) is expected to pass a law on gender equality soon, Minister of Women`s Empowerment and Child Protection Linda Gumelar said.

"The House already has the draft of a law on gender equality, and I hope it can be passed this year," the minister told ANTARA here Friday.

Linda said a developed country was one that was successfully applying gender equality values. "If a country has reached equilibrium in gender, then it may be rightfully called a developed country," said Linda in opening remarks at a seminar themed "Regional Development from the Gender Perspective" held by the Association of Islamic Students Alumni (Kahmi).

Linda also said she hoped that after the law on gender equality was enacted, the Indonesian public should be properly familiarized with it.

"Although it takes time to get a bill passed into law but I hope this can be done soon. So my ministry will support every effort or movement to make the public aware of the importance of gender equilibrium in a country," Linda said.

Meanwhile, Yoga Mauladi, the Head of Kahmi, said the seminar`s aim was creating harmony between central and regional administrations on gender equality.

"Through this seminar , I hope there will be good coordination among officers to optimize people`s participation, either men or women, as well as aiming to the effective, efficient and sustainability human resource in Indonesia," he said, here Friday.

Meanwhile, the United Nations Women (UN Women) had set five priority issues to be developed in five years ahead, including expanding women`s voices, participation and terminating violence against women. The UN Women allocated 500 million US dollar for developing education for women in order to support the gender equilibrium in Indonesia.

Editor: B Kunto Wibisono