Sexist remarks

Sexist remarks

I strongly protest the statement made by Adnan Buyung Nasution
-- a celebrated human rights activist -- published in the Kompas
daily on March 9, 1996, concerning the election of the Foundation
of the Indonesian Legal Aid Institute chairman.

In his statement Adnan Buyung Nasution says, among other
things, "During the time of my two-year chairmanship, I realized
that my task was not easy. I was available 24 hours a day. If
necessary I answered calls at night and attended meetings in the
wee hours of the morning. As a chairman I had to be mentally and
physically prepared to sacrifice and handle real work. Whereas my
deputy chairperson Amartiwi is a woman of nearly 70 years old and
lives in Bandung, West Java. How can she possibly lead the
foundation and make herself available 24 hours a day? Be
logical!"

I think his statement obviously degrades human dignity,
humiliates and underestimates women and is irreverent to old age.
I respond as follows:

* His statement is clearly based on the viewpoint that women
are not capable of executing difficult tasks, particularly those
concerning human rights. It is contrary to the principles
stipulated in the foundation's statute, the Declaration of Human
Rights and the UN convention of the abolishment of discrimination
against women.

* There is no correlation between the ability to lead and sex.
For centuries women have shown their ability to accomplish hard
tasks -- even at night.

I herewith call on Adnan Buyung Nasution to apologize and
retract his statement.

ITA F. NADIA

Chairwoman, Board of executives

Kalyanamitra Foundation

Jakarta