Puan says women determine Indonesia's journey as Kartini Day is welcomed

Jakarta (ANTARA) - House of Representatives Speaker Puan Maharani stated that women play a crucial role as subjects in determining the journey of the Indonesian nation, during her remarks on women’s roles in commemorating Kartini Day in 2026.

“Indonesian women no longer need to prove their capabilities. The question today is no longer ‘whether’, but ‘how far’ and ‘with what system’. This is where the momentum of Kartini Day becomes relevant,” Puan said in Jakarta on Tuesday.

On the occasion of Kartini Day, commemorated every 21 April, she invited the public to reflect on the struggles of female national figures. Since time immemorial, according to her, women’s struggles have been an inseparable part of efforts to advance the nation.

“On Kartini Day, we reaffirm that women are not objects, but active subjects who help determine the story of the Republic of Indonesia’s journey,” she said.

She also invited all parties to reaffirm women’s roles in the nation’s progress. According to her, including women in the development process is not merely affirmative policy.

“Including women is an awareness of respecting human dignity and the right choice to strengthen the nation’s own power,” she said.

“However, we must not reduce the meaning of ‘nurturing’ to merely domestic issues that seem unrelated to national progress,” she added.

Therefore, according to her, the contributions and leadership of Indonesian women in various fields are no longer in doubt.

All parties, Puan said, must work together to ensure that the uniqueness of women’s life experiences continues to be present in various decision-making processes that will determine positive changes in the nation’s progress.

In that regard, she stated that women not only need to sit in decision-making rooms, but also to design those rooms themselves. Moreover, women’s perspectives must be considered because they make up half of Indonesia’s population.

“Happy Kartini Day 2026 to all the great Indonesian women. Let us soar high to bring Indonesia even further ahead,” she said.