Women leaders fight against abuse of women

Women leaders fight against abuse of women

JAKARTA (JP): Women leaders are launching a campaign against
the widespread use of women as a tourist attraction.

Wiwiek Sudjono, organizer of the 15th Convention of the
Federation of Asian Women's Associations, said the fight against
the practice of making women a selling point for tourism will be
on the convention's agenda.

With the theme of "the role of Asian women in the development
of the tourism industry", the convention will be opened on Friday
by First Lady Tien Soeharto at Merdeka Palace.

"It's really not right for tourists to visit tourism sites
only because they are fascinated by the women," Wiwiek said.

"Indonesian women can help in this campaign to dispel the
tradition of using women as tourist attractions, because this is
really one of the biggest problems that women have to face
today," she said.

"Without the participation of Indonesian women, this campaign
will not succeed," Wiwiek said.

The convention will hear from Minister of Tourism, Post and
Telecommunication Joop Ave. Some 70 participants from 13
countries will attend and discuss ways to reduce the adverse
impacts of tourism, especially on women, and on how women can
contribute to the industry.

These countries are Guam, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iraq,
Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan
and Thailand and the United States.

Roosmini Emil Salim, who is vice chairperson of the
convention's organizing committee, described how women are being
degraded by the common practice of selling tourism with women as
the lure.

"Both foreign and domestic tourists go to Indonesian tourist
resorts and the first thing they ask for is a woman," she said.

"It's no secret that in some places, such as in hotels in the
tourist resorts, women are treated as objects," Roosmini said.

She pointed out that women can contribute to the tourism
industry by, among other things, making local handicrafts and
developing local arts and culture.

Among the topics chosen are "the tourism industry for economic
development and peace", "tourism and the environment", and
"tourism and socio-cultural development".

The convention participants will also be treated to a trip to
scenic Bukittinggi in South Sumatra. (31)