Jakarta, dpd.go.id – ISSUE on gender equality has become a global issue that is actual, fresh and controversial. However, gender which is understood as equality of treatment or equity owned by women and men in every side of life is still interpreted as bias by the society in Indonesia. In response thereto, the Bill Drafting Committee (PPUU) of DPD RI invited speakers including Dr. Siti Musdah Mulia (Professor of Islamic Political Thought Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University), National Commission for Women and Indonesian Women’s Coalition, to discuss various issues of gender equality in the Public Hearing Meeting (RDPU) on last Wednesday noon (25/01/12).

In the introductory meeting, I Wayan Sudirta (Senator from Bali) said there are at least 3 (three) main discussion in the meeting that is about the definition of gender equality, the need for Indonesia to make the act on gender equality, and how to set gender equality in Indonesia with the existing cultural diversity and social order.

According to Kunthi Tridewiyanti (Commissioner of National Commission for Women) gender equality has a sense of in common condition for men and women to get their opportunities and rights as human beings in political, economic, social, cultural, defense and national security activities, “there are also similarities in the enjoyment of development results,” he added simply.

Kunthi argued that there are several components that need attention from the policy makers in making the act of gender equality, i.e. the component of women resources, socio-cultural component in Indonesia and structural components of the system. Related to the structure or systems, the chairwoman of the Sub Commission on Law Reform and National Commission Policy for Women stated there are many public policies that gender-biased and discriminative, it is supported by Tugu Saraswati, who also played an active role in the National Commission for Women.

Tugu explained, in the law of Indonesia, a little sets about women, but there has been ratification of strengthening women’s rights including the UN convention on human rights regarding women’s political rights which are ratified into Act no. 68 Year 1958, also the Convention on the elimination of discrimination against women or CEDAW ratified by Indonesia through Act No. 7, 1984.

Responding to the previous statement, Siti Musdah Mulia questioned the effectiveness of laws concerning the efforts to uphold gender equality and justice in Indonesia. As one of Asia’s leading Muslim feminist, Musdah assumed the need for an evaluation to measure the effectiveness of the existing laws, “there must be periodically attempt to evaluate the law in the life of our nation and state,” she added.

Musdah also stressed the need for a more holistic law in regulating and ensuring gender equality in all aspects of development and one of them by re-evaluating the existing laws, “I do not mean disagree with this Act, I hope this Act takes into consideration what was initiated earlier,” she said briefly.

Regarding the necessary of law on gender equality, both Musdah and the representatives of the National Commission for Women said the need to fight how this law can ensure that all citizens are not subjected to discrimination on the basis of gender aspects, and have the equal access, get the same opportunity to participate, and the same opportunity to control and enjoy all the developments.

Tulisan ini tersedia dalam: Bahasa

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