Indonesian Lawmaker Calls for Stronger Commitment to Gender Equality on International Women’s Day
Jakarta, The Gulf Observer: A senior Indonesian lawmaker has called on all sectors of society to use International Women’s Day as momentum to strengthen national awareness of gender equality and accelerate efforts to ensure justice and equal opportunities for women.
Lestari Moerdijat, Deputy Speaker of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR), said meaningful progress toward gender equality requires a strong commitment from all stakeholders as well as policies capable of creating structural changes in society.
“Commitment to justice and equality for women cannot be fully realized without support from all parties and policies that drive structural change in society,” Moerdijat said in a statement issued in Jakarta on Sunday.
She noted that this year’s International Women’s Day theme, “Give to Gain,” emphasizes the importance of collaboration, generosity and social investment in advancing gender equality.
Moerdijat also pointed out that the observance of International Women’s Day during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan provides an opportunity to reflect on values such as empathy, justice and social solidarity.
According to her, these principles align closely with the spirit of global efforts to promote women’s rights and equal opportunities. She stressed that the struggle for gender equality is not solely the responsibility of the government but requires the active participation of all elements of society.
International Women’s Day, observed annually on March 8, also serves as a reminder of the challenges women continue to face in various sectors, including the economy, politics and protection from violence, she added.
Moerdijat cited the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2025, which ranked Indonesia 97th out of 148 countries with a gender equality score of 0.692, reflecting ongoing disparities in economic participation, political representation, access to education and health outcomes between men and women.
She also referred to findings from the National Women’s Life Experience Survey (SPHPN) 2024, which revealed that one in four Indonesian women aged between 15 and 64 has experienced physical or sexual violence during her lifetime.
The data, she said, highlight that gender equality and the protection of women remain critical issues requiring greater attention from policymakers and society.
Moerdijat expressed hope that this year’s International Women’s Day would strengthen collective awareness and inspire concrete actions to promote justice and equality for women across Indonesia.
