Sarasehan title, KPPG discusses strategies to realize 30 percent women's representation in Parliament

JAKARTA - The Golkar Party Women's Union (KPPG) held a National Women's Sarasehan and Dialogue as a joint forum to discuss strategies for increasing women's representation in the legislative body towards the 30 percent quota target as mandated in the national regulation.

The Sarasehan and National Women's Dialogue event was attended and officially opened by the Deputy Chairperson of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia, Sari Yuliati. Also present, the Minister of Communication and Information, Meutya Hafid, the General Chairperson of the KPPG Hetifah Sjaifudian, Deputy for Gender Equality, Ministry of Empowerment of Women and Child Protection, Amurwani Dwi Lestariningrum and Members of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia for the Golkar Party Faction (FPG).

In addition, sarasehan also presents experts and stakeholders in the field of democracy, citizenship, and women's political representation. Experts who provide views and input in the Sarasehan forum and the National Women's Dialogue are Siti Zuhro-Principal Researcher BRIN, Iffa Rosita-Commissioner of the Indonesian KPU, Titi Anggraini-Deputy Coordinator of the Indonesian Women's Progress and Perludem Board of Trustees, and Neni Nur Hayati Director of Democracy and Electoral Empowerment Partnership Indonesia (DEEP Indonesia).

In her remarks, Sari Yuliati said that women's representation in politics cannot be seen merely as a fulfillment of numbers or quotas.

"The presence of women in the decision-making process is an important prerequisite for a more inclusive and representative democracy," said Sari when opening a sarasehan event at the DPR Building, Jakarta, Friday, June 26.

Various research findings, said Sari Yuliati, show that increasing women's participation in political institutions is correlated with the birth of policies that are more responsive to community needs, especially in the education, health, social protection, and human resource development sectors.

The General Treasurer of the DPP Golkar Party also appreciated and appreciated the KPPG who had initiated and organized the Sarasehan forum and the National Women's Dialogue on women's representation in politics.

"The presence of various stakeholders shows a common commitment to continue strengthening the position of women in political life and national policymaking. The theme raised at the event is very relevant and strategic in the context of the development of Indonesian democracy," he said.

At the same place, the Chairperson of the KPPG Hetifah Sjaifudian said that this forum is a strategic space to build common perceptions and strengthen collaboration between political women's groups in encouraging the increase in women's representation in parliament.

"The results of the national sarasehan and dialogue are expected to produce conclusions and joint strategic steps to strengthen the position of women in electoral politics as well as encourage an increase in the number of women who are elected as members of the legislature in the upcoming elections," he explained.

Hetifah, who is also the Chairman of Commission X of the Indonesian House of Representatives, revealed that the Golkar Party has committed to encouraging women's leadership. This is reflected in the many Golkar Party women cadres who currently occupy strategic positions in the government and parliament, ranging from ministers, deputy ministers, leaders of the Indonesian House of Representatives, committee chairmen, to the heads of the council's supporting institutions.

Meanwhile, the Chairperson of the Organizing Committee for the National Sarasehan and Women's Dialogue, Tati Noviati, said that the KPPG as a women's wing organization and also the Women's Empowerment Division of the Golkar Party initiated a cross-party political dialogue forum that presented women's wing organizations and women's empowerment fields from the parties participating in the 2024 Elections, both those who have representation in the DPR RI and non-parliamentary parties.

Tati Noviati, who is also the Secretary General of KPPG, said through this forum, KPPG hopes to strengthen the synergy between political parties in advocating for a more substantive and sustainable increase in women's representation in Indonesia.

As is known, in the Sarasehan forum, each political party women's organization provided an explanation related to problems, various challenges faced in efforts to meet the 30 percent women's representation quota, including structural, cultural, and regulatory obstacles that are still obstacles in increasing women's participation in elections.