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JAKARTA, 11 July 2005 - Gender
discrimination occurs in various layers of society and the existing
child preference among Indonesian couples proves that it starts
very early in life. Sadly, women are also responsible in preserving
various discriminative practices in the society.
Experiences in various countries showed that
inequality is linked to incomplete education due to early marriages,
accelerating the spread of sexually-transmitted infections and
HIV/AIDS, increased reproductive health risks because of teen
pregnancy and lack access to health services and increased gender-based
violence.
The theme of this year’s World Population
Day on July 11th is gender equality and with the prevailing inequalities,
it gives a good opportunity to raise the public awareness that
gender equality allow women to pursue an education, have options
for self-development, earn an income, access (reproductive) health
services, plan their family and future and improve their quality
of life and that of their family members. In turn, empowering
women - constituting around half of the country’s population
– contributes to efforts for poverty eradication and national
development.
Statistics in Indonesia:
Gender issues have not been properly addressed in Indonesia and
this is reflected in the fact that the country ranks 91 out of
144 countries in the Gender-related Development Index (GDI) and
33 out of 71 countries for the Gender Empowerment Measures (GEM)
in 2002.
- In education: More and more women enjoy
primary and secondary education but there is a gender gap in
higher education level where 54.1% men and only 45.9% women
continue their study to university.
- In work force: compared to men, women face
greater disadvantages in finding works. The sex gap in unemployment
is greatest at the highest level of education where women’s
rate of unemployment is 18.3%, which is more than double that
of men at 8.8%.
- According to ILO’s 2000 data, women’s
influx to lower-paid end of the labor market results in lower
wages for women: at slightly over two third of men’s earnings.
- In reproductive health: gender inequality
is linked with death in pregnancy and childbirth and accelerating
the spread of sexually-transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV/AIDS.
In Indonesia, the prevalence of HIV/AIDS is currently below
1%. However, its spreading rate has prompted the governemnt
to declare it a serious threat to national development.
- Gender inequality is also linked to various
types of gender-based violence. A 2004 data shows that there
were 14,020 cases of violence, including domestic violence,
violence in society and women trafficking. The figure almost
doubled that of the previous year at 7,787 cases.
- In decision making: despite the issuance
of Law No. 12/2003, ensuring a 30% quota for women participation
in the legislative body, women make up only 11% of the 500-membered
House of Representative
Activities for WPD:
A three-day Exhibition at the National Monument (Monas) complex,
starting July 1st, 2005,
- A workshop on women’s empowerment and family planning
(preceded by a press conference) on July 2nd at 11:30 AM at
the National Family Planning Coordinating Board (BKKBN)’s
office,
-A mass aerobic will be held on July 3rd from 6 AM to 9 AM at
Monas complex. Vice President Jusuf Kalla will participate in
the event. The peak of the event is at 9 AM where President
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is scheduled to give his public address
to officially mark the WPD commemoration.
UNFPA --Maria Endah Hulupi
Media officers: mendah.unfpa@un.or.id
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