Indonesian Companies Promote Acceleration of Action for Women's Leadership
Jakarta — Marking International Women’s Day 2026, company leaders, investors and policymakers gathered at the Main Hall of the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) to host Ring The Bell For Gender Equality (RTBFGE) 2026. Adopting the theme “Women’s Leadership for a Fair and Prosperous Economy,” the event highlighted the contribution that the private and business sectors can make to promote gender equality and realise a fair and prosperous economy for all.
RTBFGE was organised by the IDX in collaboration with UN Women, UN Global Compact Network Indonesia (IGCN), International Finance Corporation (IFC), and Indonesia Business Coalition for Women Empowerment (IBCWE). The event forms part of the global RTBFGE campaign, a joint initiative from the United Nations Sustainable Stock Exchange, UN Global Compact, UN Women and World Federation of Exchanges. As a strong global tradition, the campaign highlights the important role of capital markets in promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment. This year, approximately 114 stock exchanges in 90 countries are participating in the campaign.
Despite progress in women’s empowerment, significant gender gaps remain in Indonesia’s labour market. In 2025, female labour force participation stood at 56.7%, significantly lower than male participation. At the corporate leadership level, gaps are also evident.
According to the Asia Market Monitor 2025, compiled by the United Nations Sustainable Stock Exchanges Initiative, IFC, and UN Women, 49% of firms in Indonesia still have boards composed entirely of men – higher than the 15% Asian average. Meanwhile, only 19% of Indonesian firms have at least 30% women on their boards. These findings underscore the importance of accelerating action to strengthen women’s representation in leadership and corporate decision-making – a critical step in building a more inclusive and resilient economy.
Mari Elka Pangestu, Deputy Chair of the National Economic Council, stated in her keynote address: “Today, what we are doing is not merely ringing a bell. Today, what we want to do is send a message that must be heard in every boardroom, by every investor, and by every decision-maker in this room and beyond: women’s leadership is an investment that will make companies more profitable, better and competitive.”
Risa Effenita Rustam, IDX Director, said: “Promoting women’s leadership is not merely a gender equality agenda, but also a strategic investment for the future of business and more equitable and prosperous economic development.”
The RTBFGE 2026 event featured speed coaching sessions designed to translate dialogue into measurable steps. Bringing together executives from companies and industry leaders as mentors, over 100 participants engaged in discussions and peer learning focused on:
Building family-friendly workplaces, including integrating childcare initiatives and policies that promote shared care responsibility
Strengthening career pathways for women’s leadership and internal networks
Addressing challenges identified through recent research on women’s leadership in corporate environments
Implementing practical tools such as the Women’s Empowerment Principles Gender Gap Analysis Toolkit (WEPs GAT) and Gender Equality Assessment, Results and Strategies (GEARS)
Combating workplace violence and harassment
Ulziisuren Jamsran, UN Women Indonesia Representative and Liaison to ASEAN, stated: “Women’s participation and leadership are crucial for building a fair and prosperous economy. By promoting policies that support workplace equality, fairly recognising and distributing unpaid care work, strengthening digital inclusion, and transforming social norms, institutions and society as a whole, we can unlock women’s full potential and accelerate progress towards gender equality.”
“Ring the Bell for Gender Equality, held today, sends a strong signal of the private sector’s, state-owned enterprises’ and business sector’s commitment to accelerating the achievement of women’s empowerment and promoting a more inclusive economy.”
In 2025, UN Women, together with strategic partners, initiated the Asia-Pacific Sustainable Finance Lab, designed to support stock exchanges across Asia in accelerating commitments related to gender equality in capital markets.
Each session concluded with participants identifying concrete next steps within their respective organisations, reinforcing accountability and sustained achievement.
Y. W. Junardy, President of UN Global Compact Network Indonesia (IGCN), said: “Gender equality is not merely a social issue, but also a business imperative for sustainable economic growth. Through the momentum of Ring The Bell for Gender Equality that we organise annually with IDX, UN Women, IBCWE and IFC, we encourage companies in Indonesia to accelerate the implementation of Women’s Empowerment Principles and ensure that women have equal opportunities to lead, innovate and contribute to decision-making.”
Indonesia Business Coalition for Women Empowerment (IBCWE) emphasised the importance of a data-driven approach and measured strategies in accelerating women’s leadership in companies. Through Gender Equality Assessment, Results and Strategies (GEARS), IBCWE consistently supports companies in identifying gender gaps and developing prioritised action plans.