Women seeking greater future role

Women seeking greater future role

JAKARTA (JP): A national women's organization long considered
close to the government is pouncing on opportunities from the
reform movement to establish a more significant role for itself
in society.

Chairwoman of the Indonesian Congress of Women (Kowani), Enny
Busiri, said the issue of retaining the First Lady as the
organization's main patron would be among subjects for discussion
at its 21st congress which opened on Monday.

Enny and her colleagues of the 70-year-old organization also
said they would strive for greater democracy in the election of
organization leaders. They acknowledged government intervention
in the past.

Members will discuss other possible changes to anticipate
developments in the next five years, amid political uncertainty
ahead of this year's general election.

"Strategies to empower women should continue, but we will have
to focus more on programs directly related to people's needs,"
she told The Jakarta Post, such as preventing student dropouts.

She stressed the organization should now exert "social
control" over government policies.

Enny said, "In the past we were subject to the (limits) of the
system," which included lack of transparency.

Enny reported on the accountability of Kowani leadership to
the forum on the second day of the congress. Its 343 participants
include representatives of 73 affiliated organizations, among
them units of the Civil Servants Wives Organization (Dharma
Wanita) and social and religious groups.

Opened by patron Hasri Ainun Habibie on Monday, the congress
will close on Thursday. (anr)