Megawati urges gender equality

SERANG, Banten: President Megawati Soekarnoputri called on Wednesday for equal opportunities for women, as they made up the majority of the population.

Speaking at an event commemorating World Population Day, which fell on July 11, she underlined that empowering women meant improving the nation's welfare.

Women should have a greater role in development programs, she said. "We have to improve women's education, health and skills. But we also have to improve protection for them."

Megawati, the first woman president of Indonesia, is highly likely to be up for reelection in the presidential run-off on Sept. 20.

She began speaking out on gender and women's rights issues after being criticized heavily for ignoring women's problems in the country. -- JP