First Lady Iriana Accompanies President Jokowi To Ukraine, KSP: Because Women Think More About And Prioritize Aspects Of Humanitarian Protection

JAKARTA - The presence of First Lady Iriana when President Joko Widodo visited Ukraine, which was still ravaged by war, gave a message of seriousness and sincerity of President Jokowi's peaceful mission which is based on friendship, according to the Main Expert Staff of the Presidential Staff Office, Siti Ruhaini Dzuhayatin.

"The togetherness of Mrs. Iriana and President Jokowi shows real daily life, as it is, relaxed, and warm. This gesture carries a strong message of peace so that the conflict will end soon and the people can return to normal life," said Ruhaini in a written statement, Thursday, June 30.

Ruhaini said that Iriana's presence accompanied President Jokowi to the Ukrainian city of Kyiv, making the visit like a friendly visit between families who are facing problems, and are ready to share in finding solutions. Moreover, he said, President Jokowi believes that talks between heads of state will be more effective if carried out through soft diplomacy, which prioritizes feelings and emotional closeness.

The professor in the field of Human Rights and Gender at UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta also viewed that Iriana's determination to accompany President Jokowi on his peace mission to Ukraine has signaled the importance of involving women in the peace process. Because, continued Ruhaini, women are often victims of multiple layers and bear a double burden in every conflict, but their roles and interests are forgotten.

He said, in many cases, the involvement of women in the conflict resolution process has succeeded in accelerating the achievement of true peace. "Because women are more concerned about and concerned with aspects of human protection rather than just ambition and political interests," he said.

On that occasion, Ruhaini revealed, the active role and real contribution of President Jokowi and the First Lady in the peace and humanitarian mission in Ukraine, further strengthened Indonesia's position as the initiator of the Non-Aligned Movement, which voiced independence, opposed the RAS separation system, and did not side with the pact. "We are proud as a nation, witnessing the President and First Lady taking an active role in peacekeeping missions and contributing significantly to bringing humanitarian aid to Ukraine," he said.

As is known, First Lady Iriana Joko Widodo (Jokowi) accompanied President Jokowi on a peace mission to Ukraine, on Wednesday 29 June.

On that occasion, Iriana symbolically handed over humanitarian aid in the form of medicines to the Center for Endocrine Science and Surgery, Endocrine Organ and Tissue Transplantation, in the city of Kyiv. Previously, the First Lady together with President Jokowi also saw firsthand the debris of Lipky's apartment complex in Irpin City.

Iriana's participation in the peace mission to Ukraine has been in the spotlight and has raised various public questions. Moreover, the visit was carried out in the midst of war.

"The decision to participate in the first lady certainly requires intensive consideration and coordination between the Indonesian side and the Ukrainian side, considering the situation and conditions are very dynamic and uncertain," concluded Ruhaini.