Women's Representation In Parliament Has Set A Record Time To Improve The Quality Of Law Products

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Puan Maharani (Dok DPR Photo)

JAKARTA - The number of female DPR members for the period 2024-2029 is the most in history. The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, hopes that the increase in women's representation in this legislative institution will not only be in terms of quantity, but also in terms of the quality of female legislators.

"We hope that the increase in representation will not only be from quantity, but also quality. Thus, women will maximally color all processes in the DPR RI," said Puan, Friday, October 18.

In this period of the DPR, there were 127 women who filled the parliamentary seats out of a total of 580 council members. The representation of women from the DPR RI for the 2024-2029 period increased by 22.1% and made a new history of Indonesia. In the 1999 election, the percentage of female DPR members was only 8.2%. Then in the 2004 election there was 11.5%.

Furthermore, in the 2009 election, there were 18% of women in the DPR, the 2014 election fell to 17.3%, the 2019 election for female DPR members was 20.5%, and for the 2024 General Election the figure rose to 21.9% or there were 127 female council members.

"Because women's representation in parliament can strengthen the quality of democracy, parliament will be more responsive to various problems in society," continued Puan.

Puan reminded women DPR members not to consider this success only as a mere point. According to her, the increase in women's representation in the DPR should be considered as progress in the struggle for women's empowerment.

"This achievement is a big step in realizing more inclusive and responsive politics to various issues, especially related to gender equality," said Puan.

Puan said that the success of women to walk to Senayan is proof that gender equality in politics is not just a discourse.

"This is a reality that will change the face of the national legislation. So the increase in women's representation in the DPR must be able to present issues and formulation of gender-responsive policies, because women know best about their needs," explained the former Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture.

Puan asked the female council members to continue the success of the DPR for the previous period, especially on issues of protection and distinction of women. Under the leadership of Puan, the DPR for the 2019-2024 period succeeded in distributing Law Number 12 of 2022 concerning the Crime of Sexual Violence (TPKS) which has been fighting for for 10 years.

Even the TPKS Law is considered an initial milestone in the elimination of sexual violence in Indonesia which has become an iceberg phenomenon.

"Parliamentary women must bring a new perspective that is more comprehensive in the policy-making process, especially in the issue of protecting women and children, family welfare, reproductive health, to empowering women's economy," said Puan.

He added that women in the DPR must be able to be sensitive to the needs of women at large. Puan gave an example of the needs of women who are also related to the issue of children and families considering that the majority of women also have the status of mothers and wives.

"Women in the DPR must be able to make a formulation of policies or laws that are able to prosper women and children's issues. This includes overseeing government and budgeting programs for the benefit of women," he said.

Bung Karno's grandson also said that the presence of women in parliament will not only have an impact on the existence of women at the national level, but to the global level. Because, Puan reminded, the DPR also has a diplomatic function that can be used to fight for women's issues.

"Through the diplomatic function of parliament, members of the DPR can voice the aspirations of women in the international world to ensure a balance of perspectives in decision making in every issue so that it can improve the quality of public policies that are more inclusive and sustainable," he said.