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The 2006 World Population Day with “Young People”
as the theme was commemorated in Indonesia through a series
of activities held in Jakarta and Subang, West Java starting
from 26 June to end of July 2006. The activities in Jakarta
included “walk for health” participated by young
people and seminars, while the ones held in Subang district
were jamboree and signing of commitment statement by activists,
each representing the province’s 10 districts. The whole
2006 World Population Day activities was conducted with the
participation of government and non government agencies at
central, provincial and district levels, under the coordination
of Ministry of Women Empowerment. Details of the activities
for the WPD commemoration can be seen at the attachment.
This is the first activity and was held by BKKBN, the National
Family Planning Coordinating Board. The population declaration
aims at strengthening the population and family planning programe
in Indonesia and is being socialized to get broader supports
from local stakeholders. The declaration is to be launched
in early August this year.
Ministry of Youth and Sports and Ministry of Women Empowerment
conducted “Walk for Health” which was participated
by 1,200 students and the public living in Jakarta and greater
Jakarta areas. The Minister of Women Empowerment Prof Dr.
Meutia Hatta Swasono officially flagged off the walkers. There
were also door prices for the participants, such as bicycles,
DVDs, TV sets, a refrigerator, and a washing machine by the
two ministries, sponsored by private companies. The large
turn out is an indication of the successful organizing of
the walk for health, which helped foster public awareness
on WPD and population issues.
Two interactive dialogs through RRI (Radio Republic of Indonesia),
organized by the Ministry of Communication and Information,
and BKKBN. Appeared as speakers in the first dialog were Minister
of Women Empowerment – Prof Dr. Meutia Hatta Swasono,
Chairperson of Indonesian Demographers’ Association
- Mr. Rozy Moenir, and UNFPA Representative a.i. – Ms.
Martha Santoso Ismail. In the second interactive dialog, Mr.
Ipin Husni of BKKBN was the speaker. The two interactive dialogues
succeeded in generating participation of listeners throughout
Indonesia and the questions were of youth related issues including
reproductive health, gender equality, gender-based violence
and family planning.
 This
Jamboree, held in Subang, West Java was the peak of the WPD
commemoration, involving Out-of School Community on Anti Human
Trafficking, Reduction of Illiteracy, and Increasing Reading
Habit. Officially inaugurated by the Minister of Women Empowerment
on 11 July, the jamboree was attended by more than 400 young
people and activists from ten Districts in West Java province.
The jamboree was organized by the Ministry of National Education
in collaboration with “Jaringan Radio Suara Petani”
– The Voice of Farmers’ Radio Network, a community
radio network, and the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment.
It featured stage performance on the human trafficking - a
widespread problem in West Java province, its impacts and
on the importance of reduction of illiteracy for community/women’s
empowerment. A dialog between the Jamboree participants and
the Minister of Women Empowerment Prof Dr. Meutia Hatta  Swasono
and local government officials was held and moderated by Ms.
Dewi Hughes,
a famous artist who appeared in her capacity as the Indonesian
Ambassador for Anti Human Trafficking. In her speech, Dr.
Swasono stressed the need to empower young people, and to
involve them in the programming process.
 At
the end of the opening ceremony, signing of a declaration
by activists representing all ten Districts in West Java province
was conducted, expressing their commitment in materializing
the six action plans in their respective districts: (1.) to
eliminate human trafficking; (2.) to eradicate illiteracy;
(3.) to foster reading habit; (4.) to eliminate domestic violence;
(5.) to push women’s role in village development; and
(6.) to protect children and provide proper education. The
issues will also be disseminated to the public in general
through the radio network. In an interview with reporter from
a local TV station,
UNFPA representative a.i. Martha Santoso Ismail explained
about UNFPA supports to the Government of Indonesia under
the 7th Country Programme, specifically on the Fund’s
assistance to West Java’s districts of Indramayu and
Tasikmalaya.
Other commemoration activities will be done and reported
later (Commemeration
of WPD 2006).
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