Puan's Speech At The Joint Session Of The DPR: Women Have The Right To Occupy Public Positions At All Levels

JAKARTA - The chairman of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, mentioned the issue of women during a speech at the Joint Session of the DPR-DPD RI which was attended by President Prabowo Subianto at the Parliament Complex. Puan emphasized that women have the right to hold public positions at all levels.

Puan said that in the development of national human resources, it should not ignore the fact that half of the potential of the Indonesian nation is women. This is in accordance with data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) 2024 which shows 49 percent of Indonesia's population is women.

According to Puan, in the era of inclusive development, the existence and contribution of women must be placed not only in the framework of human rights, but also as a prerequisite for the success of national development.

"The right to development is to free humans from the shackles of injustice, poverty, and lagging behind. Therefore, men and women must both be free from these shackles and achieve prosperity," said Puan in her speech at the Parliament Complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Friday, August 15.

"It's not just men or women, but men and women who have to be prosperous," he continued.

Currently, continued Puan, women's representation in the Indonesian House of Representatives for the 2024'2029 period has reached a record high in history, which is around 21.9 percent or 127 of the 580 members of the House of Representatives.

"This is progress that should be appreciated, but it is still far from the ideal target of at least 30 percent of women's representation in the legislative body, as is the spirit of affirmation of gender equality in Indonesian politics," he said.

Puan emphasized that the voice of a woman is the original tone that helps shape the life of the nation. Without that tone, according to him, the melody of civilization will lose harmony, only my voice has never been a song.

"Men and women live in the same world, bearing the same responsibility to build world civilization," he said.

"Like a very popular song: Imagine all the people Sharing all the world You may say I'm a dreamer But I'm not the only one I hope someday you'll join us And the world will live as one," added Puan.

The former Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture said that all elements of the nation should have imagined that Indonesia is a place where women and men share space, share power, and share responsibility for mutual progress.

"Women are also entitled to public and state positions at all levels," said the first woman to serve as Chair of the DPR RI.