Women and Politics: Towards a More Representative Parliament in 2024

Jakarta, February 7, 2024 – Despite women making up half of Indonesia's population, their representation in parliament is still far from ideal. In the 2019-2024 period, only 20.87 percent of seats in the DPR (House of Representatives) were occupied by women.

The government is targeting to increase women's representation in parliament to 30 percent in the 2024-2029 period. Minister of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection, Bintang Puspayoga, emphasized that women's participation in politics is not just a matter of numbers, but also an investment in shaping the nation's future.

"Women play an important role in the development of civilization. The presence of women in politics will bring a humanistic approach to policy making, resulting in policies that are more pro-people," said Bintang in the 9th Merdeka Barat Forum (FMB9) Dialog which raised the theme 'Supporting Women in the 2024 Election'.

However, women's opportunities and chances in politics are still hampered by patriarchal culture and customs that do not fully accept the role of women in the political sphere.

Executive Director of Perludem, Khoirunnisa Nur Agustyati, revealed that women still face many obstacles in entering the world of politics. Patriarchal culture and regulations that are not always supportive are the two main factors.

"Women struggle alone, without adequate support from political parties. Violence, not only physical but also non-physical, such as sexist comments and bullying on social media. These are frightening specters for women who dare to enter the world of politics," said Khoirunnisa.

Chairwoman of the Presidium of the Indonesian Parliament Women's Caucus, Diah Pitaloka, believes that the presence of women in politics brings a new color and paradigm. Women have different abilities and perspectives than men, and this can enrich the policy-making process.

"A supportive political culture needs to be built. If there are female candidates who can be supported, don't hesitate. Because quite a few women themselves still have doubts in facing the strong patriarchal culture in politics," said Diah.

The 2024 Election is a momentum for women to show their existence and quality in politics. This way, Indonesia will have a parliament that is more representative and responsive to the needs and aspirations of the people, especially women.