Indonesian Speaker participates in 17th Conference of PUIC

Jakarta, The Gulf Observer: Indonesian Speaker of the House of Representatives (DPR RI) Puan Maharani underscored the issue of women’s participation while speaking at the 17th Conference of the Parliamentary Union of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (PUIC) in Algeria.

In her written statement here on Tuesday, Maharani laid emphasis on the need for Islamic countries to increase women’s participation in various spheres of life, including in politics.

“We must show that women can excel in the Muslim community. I, as the speaker of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia, represent the progress of women in my country, the largest Muslim-majority country,” Maharani explained.

The 17th PUIC Conference was held in Algeria on January 29-30, 2023.

Maharani remarked that progress in Muslim countries will be greatly influenced by leaders’ willingness to provide equal opportunities for women to contribute to development.

“Women, as they make up half of the global population, are a very important (factor) in achieving modernization and development progress,” she affirmed.

At the PUIC Conference, Maharani also spoke of the long-term challenges faced by Muslim countries over the decades, one of which is the division that makes Muslim countries powerless on the global stage.

To this end, she emphasized the importance of Muslim countries coming together to play a very strategic role in overcoming global challenges that include creating peace, improving living standards, and reducing emissions.

“Muslim countries should not be part of the problem. We have to be part of the solution. It is a manifestation of the Islam rahmatan lil ālamīn, mercy for all creation,” she said.

In addition, she called on PUIC member states to unite in facing the magnitude of the current challenges.

“Let us work together to strengthen solidarity among Muslims and make this conference contribute to the unity of the Islamic world,” she remarked.