RI to attend UN session on women

JAKARTA: State Minister for Women's Empowerment Meutia Farida Hatta Swasono is heading for New York this weekend, to detail the country's efforts to empower women at the 49th plenary session of the United Nations' Commission on the Status of Women.

Held on Monday until March 11, the session is aimed at evaluating the Beijing Platform for Action (BPFA) signed in 1995 to end all discrimination against women.

Meutia said Indonesia had made progress especially regarding its gender mainstreaming in national development programs including education, politics and health, and the passing of Law No. 23/2004 on the eradication of domestic violence.

"However, there are still a lot of problems relating to women, such as poverty, a lack of education, and violence. They are rooted in cultural perceptions that still place women in a subordinate position," Meutia said on Friday.

After the session, Meutia, along with other ministers from Muslim countries plan to Laura Bush in Washington DC. -- JP