Bogor for gender equality

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.