Bogor for gender equality

Theresia Sufa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The government has appointed Bogor regency to implement a pilot project to promote gender equality between men and women in local policymaking.

Two other regions participating in the project are Tapin and Tanah Laut regencies, both in South Kalimantan.

Chairwoman of Gender Awareness for Administrative Affairs (TPTG) Rini Soerojo said that the program was aimed at encouraging women to be actively involved in drafting development plans in local governments.

TPTG is an institute under the supervision of the Office of the State Minister for Women's Empowerment.

Rini said Bogor was appointed to carry out the TPTG program because of its proximity to the national capital Jakarta, while the two other regencies were chosen for the pilot program because women make up the majority population there.

In Tapin, she added, women account for 60 percent of the total population.

According to Sri, to actively involve women in decision making processes, they must have broad knowledge of various issues.

She said that the objective of her organization was to involve women in designing development plans in various agencies.

TPTG's consultant Joanne Frindiville of Canada said that the Asian Development Bank (ADB) had given contributions worth US$400,000 in grants to finance technical assistance for the TPTG program.

She said there are several objectives of ADB's grant including the improvement of women's participation in decision making processes, and to improve gender awareness among development worker in Indonesian regions.

She said the TPTG program in Tapin and Tanah Laut regencies received strong support from local legislative councils.

But she said she did not know the stance of the Bogor Council over the program because she had not met with Bogor councillors.

"I have long proposed to have a meeting with the councillors, but there has yet to be a response," she added.