DPR Chairman Reminds Women's Inclusion Should Not Be Limited To Affirmative Policies But Based On Awareness

Chairman of the DPR RI Puan Maharani wearing a batik cloth with the Semen Rama motif when attending the MPR Annual Session/screenshot via ANTARA

JAKARTA - The chairman of the DPR, Puan Maharani, encourages women to be given more space and roles to support the progress of the nation.

This was conveyed by Puan during a speech at the Joint Session of the DPR and DPD, Tuesday, August 16. According to him, filling positions by women should not seem limited to fulfilling affirmative policies.

Moreover, continued Puan, many women in Indonesia play an active role and take important roles in various fields such as economic, social, political, environmental, and others.

"Including women in every position is not an affirmative policy but is an awareness of respect for human dignity," said Puan as shown on the DPR RI YouTube.

Puan reminded women and men to be placed in the same position. He likens the two to the wings of a bird.

"If the two wings are equally strong, then the bird will fly to the top as high as possible," said the chairman of the PDIP DPP.

However, if the wing is broken, then the bird cannot fly. "This is the spirit that we must also instill in building a democratic life in Indonesia," he said.

"Where women and men have the same dignity, progress, and welfare," continued Puan.

Not only that, Puan ensured that the state would guarantee the rights of its citizens. Everyone has the same rights but still have to respect each other.

This step, said Puan, is important to build a democratic civilization. "The role of the state is needed to guarantee the same democratic rights for all citizens of the nation; the right to get the same sense of security for all citizens of the nation; the same right to live in peace for all citizens of the nation," said Puan.

"This is our collective duty, to build a democratic civilization that glorifies human values and maintains the dignity of the nation," he concluded.