Women activists campaign for quota

JAKARTA: Activists from the Women Care for Indonesia Movement visited the House of Representatives on Wednesday as part of their campaign to increase women's representation in politics.

Law No. 12/2003 on elections encourages political parties to increase the number of women legislators in the House to at least 30 percent, although it does not spell out any sanctions for failure to do so.

Francisia "Eri" Seda of the Center for Electoral Reform said the absence of penalties would discourage parties from acting on the suggestion.

She said the women activists would continue to meet with leaders of different political parties.

House Speaker Akbar Tandjung, who received the activists, said his Golkar Party had assigned Sri Rejeki Soemaryoto, a Golkar leader and state minister for women's empowerment, to monitor the selection of legislative candidates in accordance with the law. - JP