Constitutional change on equality urgent: Activist<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A special section on human rights must be
\nincluded in planned changes to the 1945 Constitution to enable
\nthe replacement of many discriminative laws, advocates for
\nwomen's equality said.<\/p>\n
Nursyahbani Katjasungkana said Monday that a clause on
\nequality must be added to the constitution because in 1984 the
\ngovernment had ratified the United Nations Convention for the
\nElimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women.<\/p>\n
Nursyahbani, a noted lawyer, was addressing a press conference
\non behalf of the Indonesian Women's Coalition for Justice and
\nDemocracy where she is secretary general.<\/p>\n
The clause on equality should be inserted in the additional
\nchapter on human rights, said Nursyahbani, who also represents
\nwomen in the People's Consultative Assembly.<\/p>\n
Although the constitution already mentions among others rights
\nto a decent living, religious rights and rights to education,
\nNursyahbani said these were inadequate.<\/p>\n
\"The right to live and the right not to be discriminated
\nagainst are not covered in the constitution,\" Nursyahbani said.<\/p>\n
Talks of making changes to the Constitution, expected for
\ncompletion during the Assembly's session this August, have
\nlargely focused on issues such as the president's power.<\/p>\n
Nursyahbani said the ad-hoc committee preparing the changes
\nsince October had not responded to inputs from the Women's
\nCoalition. Discriminative laws include the marriage law and the
\nlabor law, she said.<\/p>\n
Noted sociologist Julia Suryakusuma said separately that the
\nclauses on human rights in the constitution were open for
\ninterpretation.<\/p>\n
\"We are a patriarchal community, and our laws are interpreted
\nin a patriarchal light,\" she told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Julia cited the marriage law which states that the male is the
\nhead of the family. The law has led to the waiving of domestic
\nviolence reports, Julia said, on the grounds that such cases were
\nprivate affairs.<\/p>\n
\"The law implies that the woman is the man's property,\" she
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
She agreed with Nursyahbani for the need of a specific section
\non human rights and the rights of women and children in the
\nconstitution to avoid open interpretation.<\/p>\n
Apart from mending the constitution and laws, authorities
\nshould also be taught about gender sensitivity, Julia said.<\/p>\n
\"No matter how specific the constitution, if the person
\ninterpreting it is patriarchal, then it will be patriarchal,\" she
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The Women's Coalition proposed that the special section deal
\nwith civil and political rights; social, economic and cultural
\nrights; reproductive rights; the right to fair and sustainable
\ndevelopment; and the rights of indigenous societies.<\/p>\n
Nursyahbani said ratifying the Convention also obligates the
\ngovernment to set up affirmative action for women until
\nconsiderable equality is reached.<\/p>\n
Nursyahbani stressed that discrimination extends to sexual
\norientation.<\/p>\n
Reality shows homosexuals and lesbians exist in society and in
\na country upholding the rule of law, discrimination based on
\nsexual orientation is unacceptable, she added. (10)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/constitutional-change-on-equality-urgent-activist-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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