Urgent steps to increase female representation

Urgent steps to increase female representation

Make political parties democratic and accountable; amend the
law on political parties and rule that 30 percent of parties'
legislative candidates must be women.

These are among the urgent measures to be taken in the near
future -- the latter only feasible after the 2004 elections -- to
overcome the major stumbling blocks to increasing women's higher
political representation and to enable their meaningful role in
decision making.

Ani Soetjipto and Francisia, or Eri, Seda conveyed these
measures amid their anger over the predicament of a number of
women from the Golkar Party, who felt they had been betrayed. The
women had reported to the institution where they work, the Center
for Electoral Reform (Cetro), that the party's central board had
promised that they would be on the top of the legislative
candidate list. But from consultations with party executives they
had gathered that their position had moved lower down the list,
thus reducing their chances of being elected.

"The evaluation process must be made transparent," said the
head of Golkar's women's division, Juniwati M. Sofwan. The
undemocratic nature of political parties has been cited as among
the many major obstacles to reform. The power of the central
board to determine legislative candidates is just one example.

To avoid this, researchers had suggested that the legislative
candidate list be made into a "zigzagging" pattern, alternating
between men and women, such as implemented by the Social Democrat
Party in Sweden. A week ahead of the deadline of Dec. 22 for
parties to submit legislative candidate lists to the General
Elections Commission, this suggestion had not been taken up and
Golkar's women candidates were among the first to cry foul.

Possible reasons for the oversight ranged from "money
politics" to sheer discrimination. Though the practice was
predictable, and not limited to Golkar, "I still can't accept the
reality," Ani said.

Ani and Eri, lecturers at the University of Indonesia, predict
that the national representation of women in the House of
Representatives next year will continue to decline. In 1992 the
percentage of women in the House was 12.5 percent, after the 1999
elections, the percentage dropped to 9 percent. The few women who
do get elected, they say, "will likely be those who follow the
party line".

Then the quota, which so many women have struggled for, "would
be a boomerang," Ani said. People would point out the female
legislators and say, "that's what happens when you designate a
quota for women."

It may be even harder to advocate for a change in the law and
make the quota a requirement, punishing parties which do not
comply. But the activists say there has been enough proof to show
that mere encouragement toward affirmative action -- which aims
for a level playing field among men and women in politics -- does
not work.

In the face of all constraints, Cetro and other organizations
supporting women candidates, must nevertheless continue to do
what they can: to help inform, educate and support the few women
candidates who are willing to learn -- while inside the
candidates may be trembling in the face of the wild new world of
politics.

Among other "mentoring" sessions, candidates are told to study
beforehand the characteristics of their precise constituents,
which could be traced to the areas which were the mass base of
their political parties in the 1999 elections.

In the equally tight period ahead of elections, voters'
education is grossly lacking, given the delayed passing of the
laws needed in preparation for the elections. In a number of
simulations potential voters made many mistakes -- confused as
they were by the new system -- and hence many votes will likely
be invalid.

Information campaigns through audio visual means on the
electoral system are particularly needed for busy women who
cannot afford to attend long meetings, not even to hear how
important choosing women is. Illiteracy and low education levels
pose further constraints. Another factor is that women's votes
are often influenced by male members.

Political party members also need education, being equally
"illiterate" or discriminative against women, while candidates
are dependent on parties starting at the district level, to place
them at the top of their legislative candidate lists.

For the women candidates who are elected, there is the need
for education and support in the face of the "ways of politics",
which risk reinforcing perceptions that politics is a dirty
business. Researchers meanwhile point out the obvious advantages
of paying attention to the majority of voters -- women --
estimated to make up 52 percent of the electorate.

A nationwide survey recently released by the Jakarta-based
Asia Foundation, among other research, points out the issues that
women are interested in: Easier access to loans, education for
girls, family planning and jobs were among the issues that most
female respondents were attracted to.

The sociologist, Eri Seda, points out some other short-term
steps based on discussions also involving Cetro. Networking must
be strengthened among women's groups, political parties,
legislative bodies and the media. An awareness of how society
would be better off without the unnecessary suffering caused by
various inequalities, should be instilled through training in
institutions -- such as legislative bodies (apart from the
political parties).

To strengthen women already holding public posts, she said,
further training is needed in lobbying and campaigning, and in
participation in political discussions and institutions.

Also, assistance should be provided for political parties
committed to promoting gender equality through their political
platforms and internal political structures.

Such measures would help facilitate opportunities and access
for women to gain equal leverage in competing as candidates for
political posts and in playing a meaningful role when in power.

"Even male candidates without experience, money and an
existing network have a hard time, let alone women," Eri said.
-- Ati Nurbaiti