Women leaders seek action against discrimination
JAKARTA (JP): The Asia-Pacific workshop on gender equality yesterday discussed the role of lobbyists, pressure groups and strategies to effect change at both the legislative and executive levels.
"To fight discrimination against women within the society, we have to start at a higher, policy-making level," Mely G. Tan, a member of Convention Watch women's organization, told The Jakarta Post yesterday.
"Many policymakers are men who are not sensitive to the conditions and problems that women face. We need to make them understand. The introduction of more women as policymakers will help as well," said Mely, who is also a senior researcher at the Indonesian Institute of Sciences.
The campaign, she pointed out, could be undertaken by groups or individuals interested in women's affairs.
Indonesia has laws which protect women from discrimination, but implementation has been lax, she said. "Approach to the legislative and executive bodies will help us in taking action against those who discriminate against women," Mely said.
The workshop on "Gender Equality in Asia and the Pacific through the Women's Convention: A Call to Action", which opened on Thursday, is organized by the Asia Pacific Women in Politics Network and the Convention Watch Group of the Women's Studies Graduate Program of University of Indonesia.
More than 40 participants from 13 countries are attending.
Cambodian Pok Panhavicheir said lobbying policymakers has proven effective in the fight against discrimination against women.
"Following the establishment of the democratic government in 1993, Cambodian women lobbied for constitutional equal rights. As a result our women enjoy full equal rights in the constitution," Panhavicheir said.
Inequality
Previously, she said, Cambodian women suffered from inequality. Today, the Cambodian Constitution states that "household work is equal to work done outside the home", and specifies women's equal rights to participate in all aspects of society.
"Since the 1993 election, women represent 6 percent of the members in the National Assembly," Panhavicheir said.
Tapi Omas Ihromi of Women's Studies Graduate Program at University of Indonesia said women are still discriminated against because not many people understand that Indonesia has ratified the Convention on Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women.
The convention was adopted by the United Nations' General Assembly in 1979. Indonesia ratified it in 1984.
"The ratification is proof that Indonesia is committed to pursue a policy of gender equality," she said. "Measures have been taken to remove barriers which constrain the attainment of the goal of equal treatment of men and women in all spheres of life."
The Convention Watch has initiated programs to educate the public about the convention, especially groups which are considered to have the potential to help women such as the press and legal aid offices, she said. (31)