ASEAN Women's Month '98 touts women's achievements

JAKARTA (JP): Ten years ago, the then six members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) signed a declaration on the advancement of women in the ASEAN region.

Under the declaration, the signing countries, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand, Brunei Darussalam and Indonesia, were responsible for disseminating information about the declaration, promoting the discussion of gender issues, creating or strengthening national machineries for the advancement of women and promoting the awareness of governments on the role of women in development.

The declaration's main goal is "to promote and to implement the equitable and effective participation of women whenever possible in all fields and at various levels of the political, economic, social and cultural life of society at the national, regional and international levels."

However, the goals have been mostly left untouched, unknown to many, including here in Indonesia.

That's the main reason why ASEAN's secretariat, which is in charge of monitoring the progress on the implementation of the declaration, is organizing ASEAN Women's Month '98.

The event is being held through Oct. 30 in collaboration with the Communication for Arts Foundation (Komseni) and Galeri Langgam Seni.

Komseni's director, Debra Yatim, said the event was expected to help people remember that ASEAN countries had signed the declaration, ratified it and later published it.

"Now, the book (on the declaration) is well-kept in libraries, dusty, and hardly read or even actively implemented," she said at a media briefing at the secretariat on Wednesday evening before the official launching of the event.

The theme of the event is Holding Up Half of the Sky.

"ASEAN women, who outnumber the men, hold up half of the sky, but their roles are not well-known yet," Debra said.

According to a 1996 regional report on the Advancement of Women in ASEAN, the female population outnumbers the male with a ratio of 9.8-to-8 in 1990.

The event started on Oct. 3 with a bazaar and a children's art workshop for 100 children aged between 5 and 14, who painted a 20-meter canvas titled ASEAN Women at Work.

A painting exhibition featuring the works of 23 women painters is on until Oct. 31. Ten percent of the funds raised from selling each painting will be contributed to Coalition of Indonesian Women for Justice and Democracy.

An evening of ASEAN women's short stories was held on Friday night.

Noted writer Marianne Katoppo said at Wednesday's media conference that literary works of ASEAN women were not well-known yet. "But many people know who Sidney Sheldon is," she said.

Many of this American author's best sellers have been translated into Indonesian.

Lamenting the fact that women writers are not recognized here, Marianne recalled her own experience during a 1993 discussion at the Taman Ismail Marzuki art center, Central Jakarta. During the discussion, she raised questions about the recipients of the Southeast Asia Writers' Awards but received a patronizing response from a speaker, who told her that if she tried harder, she might win the award.

"I was so surprised ... I had to send a note saying that there was a woman who won the award ... the only woman who ever won the award, me," Marianne said.

She received the award in Bangkok in 1982.

Another activity for the ASEAN women's month is a discussion on Oct. 16 on the portrayal of women in films, with female film director Nan T. Achnas.

Businesswomen Martha Tilaar of Sari Ayu cosmetics, Rini M.S. Soewandi of Astra International and Umi of Ayam Goreng Mbok Berek restaurant will be among the speakers of Women's Business Forum on Oct. 23.

Guest readers Jajang C. Noer, Renny Djayusman, Titi DJ, Ratih Sanggarwati and Non Hendratmo will recite poetry by ASEAN women poets during an evening of ASEAN Women's Poetry on Oct. 28, which is also being held to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Indonesian Youth Pledge.

ASEAN Women's Month '98 will be closed on Oct. 30 with An Evening of Music, featuring classical music performances by women performers, including the Aida Swensen Choir, solo pianist Trisutji Kamal, pianist Ary Sutedja and violinist Sharon Eng, performing Classical Nuances, and Capella Amadeus, a string chamber orchestra led by Grace Sudargo.

Proceeds from ticket sales for An Evening of Music will be used to publish the works of Indonesian women composers, including Trisutji Kamal. Tickets are Rp 100,000 each.

"So far, the works of women composers are mostly kept by the artists themselves. Without publishing their works, no one will play their music and people can't listen to them. And when the artists die, their works will gone with them," Debra said.

All of the scheduled performances are being held at the ASEAN secretariat, Jl. Sisingamangaraja 70A, South Jakarta. Those interested in taking part can call (021) 7262991 or 7972334. (ste)