Women's voice in politics and decision-making

73066  ENGLISH Indonesia has experienced an improvement in narrowing the gender gap in some key areas of endowment (e.g. health and education), opportunities, voice and agency, and necessary legislation for gender mainstreaming, but challenges remain. Gender parity index in education has been achieved. Maternal health has significantly improved. There are no pronounce gender disparities in infant and under five mortality rates and other health outcomes. Women labor’s participation rate continues to grow with better return for educated women than men. Women’s political representation has increased. Challenges persist in MMR, HIV/AIDS, stunting and wasting, gender streaming in education, economic opportunities, access to legal justice, and voice and agency in influential decision makings. These challenges juxtapose the emerging trends of human trafficking and non-women friendly policies at sub national levels. The key achievements and outstanding-issues are presented in the eight Policy Briefs, developed by the Government (the Ministry of National Planning and The Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection) and development partners (the World Bank, AusAID, CIDA, The Netherlands Embassy, DFID, and ADB). Policy Brief 1: Gender Mainstreaming has been adopted since the issuance of Presidential Instruction No 9/2000. Presidential Instruction No 3/2010 and other ministerial regulations on gender mainstreaming further stipulate efforts on equitable and inclusive development. The emerging non- women friendly legislation at the local level signifies the importance of enforcing the aforementioned legislative and policy frameworks, coordination among national ministries and all levels of public institutions, and replication of good practices. Policy Brief 2: Gender Equality and Health in Indonesia shows positive results and remaining challenges in the four key health areas related to the MDGs. Important efforts have been made to increase women’s access to health services but Indonesia needs to work hard on reducing the high maternal mortality rate, increasing access to water and sanitation as well as HIV prevention and treatment for the increasing number of adult women living with HIV. Policy Brief 3: Gender Equality and Education has been one of the key achievements for Indonesia. The MDG targets on gender parity in net enrollment are on track to be met by 2015, especially if disparities at the provincial level are addressed. Focus is now on systematic measures to increase access to improved outcomes from a more gender responsive education. The challenge remains to mainstream a gender perspective in education which involves assessing the implication of any planned educational actions (legislation, policies or programs) to boys and girls, in all areas and at all levels. Policy Brief 4: Employment, Migration, and Access to Finance remain a challenge in that without proper measures may impede development. The average annual growth of women entering labor market is higher than men, but women continue to face lower labor’s participation and higher unemployment rates, poorer quality work and lower wages, limited access to resources, discrimination in hiring and promotion, and a higher level of economic informality. Women constitute most of self- employed, unpaid family workers, and migrant workers, making them susceptible to personal and financial insecurity, trafficking and other human rights violations. Closing these gender gaps requires focusing on the equal employment opportunities, link and match of women’s trainings and skills with the labor market, underlying factors of labor market segmentation, and wage gaps and career opportunities.  ENGLISH Policy Brief 5: Poverty, Vulnerability and Social Protection has been one of the current highest government’s development priorities. Whilst the national poverty rate fell from 16.7% (2004) to 13.3% (2010) and poverty rates amongst female-headed households (FHH) remain lower than male-headed households (MHH), the overall rate of poverty reduction for FHH is lower than MHH. This is notwithstanding the well-targeted FHH in all Social Protection programs. Improved targeting techniques will reduce exclusion and inclusion errors and ensure that more poor households receive social protection. The challenge will be to ensure the new targeting mechanisms to include poverty indicators which reflect characteristics of poor and vulnerable FHHs and the male-female intra-household equal access to program benefits. Policy Brief 6: Gender Equality in Disaster Management and Climate Adaptation highlights the gendered differentiated impact of disasters. There has been significant learning from Aceh Tsunami on good practices for gender responsive disaster management. These need to inform and further strengthen all related national and local-level policies, institutions and programs to tackle the root causes of gender-based vulnerabilities, ensure use of gender analysis and sex-disaggregated data, as well as give equal weight to men’s and women’s rights and capacities. Policy Brief 7: Women’s Voice in Politics and Decision Makings in Indonesia has increased due to, among others, affirmative action for women candidacy and political participation in 2008. Women’s representation in the Parliament (DPR) increased from 11% (2004-2009) to 18% (2009-2014). Representation remained below the desired 30% and inadequate in other critical areas of public service and decision-making roles. Significant disparities within political parties and across levels of national and sub national government constrain the MDGs’ achievement for women’s empowerment. Indonesia’s Constitution and legal framework assure the equal rights of women. Strengthening current laws/regulations as well as implementation and monitoring could more effectively address women’s institutional and socio-cultural barriers. Policy Brief 8: Violence Against Women (VAW): Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking in Indonesia show both important progress and outstanding issues. More efforts are needed for law enforcement, capacity building of service provider and wider community, and extend services to urban and rural areas. The increased trend of human trafficking demands more integrated efforts for prevention, protection, prosecution and reintegration. POLICY BRIEF 7 WOMEN’S VOICE IN POLITICS AND DECISION-MAKING T he 2009 elections in Indonesia led to a significant increase in women’s participation in politics (elected office) and decision-making with the help of affirmative action for candidacy and political party participation which was introduced in 2008. Women’s representation in the Parliament (Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat, DPR) increased from 11% in 2004-2009 to 18% in 2009-2014 with similar increases across the provincial and district level DPR. Representation, however, has remained below the desired 30% and has remained inadequate in other critical areas of public service and decision-making roles. Significant disparities exist within political parties, across levels of government and between geographic regions, which constrains the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals ( MDGs) for women’s empowerment. While Indonesia’s Constitution and legal framework acknowledges the equal rights of women and demonstrates a commitment to improving governance, improvements to current laws/regulations and increased implementation and monitoring could more effectively address institutional and socio-cultural barriers and support women in elected and decision-making roles. Current Status fice has consistently grown from 8.8% in 1999 to 11% in 2004, this is a slow increase (Puskapol-UI, 2010). Women’s representation in national elected Figure 1 shows the participation of women in the DPR roles remains disproportionate since 1955 has increased slowly and inconsistently. It is generally accepted that the critical minority for Figure 2 ranks women’s participation in the South- representation is 30%; women need to make up 30% east Asia region, revealing that Indonesia lags behind of an elected or decision-making body to adequately countries such as East Timor, Cambodia and Laos. voice their concerns and opinions. This is reflected in Figure 1:Percentage of Female DPR member 1955-2010. the General Election Law 10/2008 that requires 30% women candidates running for the DPR at the nation- al, provincial, and district level. The Government also commits to improving the quality of life and role of women in its 2004-2009 National Medium Term Devel- opment Plan (Chapter 12) and in its Long Term Plan for 2005-2025. Despite these commitments, women con- stitute only 18% of the 2009-2014 National Parliament and although the percentage of women in elected of- Source Source: : UNDP, UNDP, 2010 2010 Figure 2: Women’s Representation in Southeast Asia in 2010, highest percentage representation to lowest 1 Country Seats in # % Lower/Single Women Women House Timor Leste 64 19 29.20 Laos 115 29 25.2  POLICY BRIEF 7 Source: UNDP, 2010 Figure2: 2: Figure Women’s Representation Women’s in Southeast Representation inAsia in 2010, highest Southeast Asia per- Rakyat in 2010, highest Daerah, percentage DPRD) increased from 8.8% to 16% centage representation to lowest. representation to lowest Country in 2009. The representation of women at the district/ Seats in # % elected women from 2004. Women’s r Lower/Single local level is complicated by geographical disparities House Women Women Provincial/Regional Representative Councils (D ranging from Maluku with 31% women elected to NTT Timor Leste 64 19 29.20 Laos 115 29 25.2 DPRD) with only 5.5% increased elected. Eightfrom 8.8% of the to 16% in 2009. 461 district/mu- Vietnam 493 127 25.8 district/local nicipality DRPD reached level the is complicated 30% quota requirement by geographical Singapore 94 22 23.4 Philippines 229 49 21.4 31% or achieved women elected ofto a higher percentage women NTT than thewith only Cambodia 123 26 21.10 Indonesia 560 101 18 district/municipality national average of 12%. Notable DRPD were reached the districts the 30% qu Thailand 473 63 13.3 of Gowa and Kota percentage ofTomohon women wherethan women the hold over national average Malaysia 222 22 9.9 40% of the seats in the DPRD Gowa and Kota Tomohon where women hold (Puskapol-UI, 2010). The Source: Source Inter-parliamentary : Inter-parliamentary Union, 2010 Union, 2010. lack of data regarding (Puskapol-UI, district and 2010). The provincial lack of represen- data regarding d Women’s representation in the House of Regional Representatives (Dewan tation of Perwakilan women means that conclusions cannot be Women’s representation in the House of Regional women means that conclusions cannot be drawn Daerah RI,DPD) is higher than in the national DPR and increased from 22.6% drawnin 2004aboutto why these districts were more success- 26.5% in 2009. Representatives This shows that (Dewan voters do have Daerah Perwakilan confidenceRI,DPD is in ) women successful candidates at electing women. Meanwhile, 20 to women. ful at electing Meanwhile, 20 district/munici- interests epresent their higher thanin the DPD. in the Research national DPR isand needed to determine from whyelected increased women have women at all, including districts in the pr ecured a higher level is that have no elected women at all, including pality DPRDs 22.6% in of 2004 representation to 26.5% in 2009. in this legislative This shows that body. One possibility voters Maluku Utara, and of Papua. women running for the DPD do not need to be nominated by political parties districtsandin the provinces are Aceh, NTT, NTB, Maluku, do have confidence in women candidates ndependently elected. This suggests that women’s representation in DPR isMaluku to repre- not simply a Utara, and Papua. sent eflection of the their of level interests women’s in the DPD. Research interest in elected is needed office butto moreFigurecritically 3: an 2009-2014 Legislative Bodies ndicator of the continuing determine whybarriers women for women have seeking secured to enter a higher level politics. of Such barriers Figure 3: 2009-2014 Legislative Bodies nclude political party resistance, the Election Commission’s lack of enforcement, and representation in this legislative body. One possibility Elected Members of 2009-2014 Legislative Bodies broader discrimination against women. is that women running for the DPD do not need to be 100% nominatedin Women’s representation bylocal elected political bodies parties and has areincreased slightly, with continuing independently 90% 82% 84% 88% geographical disparities elected. This suggests that women’s representation in 80% Figure 3 shows the percentage of women at different levels of government in the 70% 2009- 2014 term. At DPR is not simply a reflection of33the level of women’s P e r c e n ta g e the provincial level, 26 out of provinces increased the percentage 60% of Female 50% interest in elected office but more critically an indica- Male 40% tor of the continuing barriers for women seeking to 30% 2 18% 16% 20% 12% enter politics. Such barriers include political party 10% resistance, the Election Commission’s lack of enforce- 0% DPR RI DPRD Provinsi DPRD Kabupaten/Kota ment, and broader discrimination against women. Parliament Source: Center for Political Study, University of Indonesia (Puskapol), 2010. Women’s representation in local elected Source: Center for Political Study, University of Indonesia (P bodies has increased slightly, with At the end of 2009, there was one woman governor continuing geographical disparities At the33 among end of 2009, elected there governors wasand (Banten) one woman one dep- governor and one deputy uty governor (Centralgovernor (Central Java). Meanwhile, Java). 2.2% of Vice Meanwhil F igure 3 shows the percentage of women at differ- ent levels of government in the 2009-2014 term. At the provincial level, 26 out of 33 provinces increased 3.9% were held groups of village Regents/Mayors for and head 3.9% of by affirmative women. Despite positions village head appeals action to were held by wome positions from wom- encourage more wo en’s groups for affirmative action to encourage not gender sensitive and have no legal provisions to more the percentage of elected women from 2004. Wom- women to run, Election direct local elections Commissions, are not political gender and other r parties en’s representation on average across Provincial/Re- sensitive and have no legal provisions to encourage gional Representative Councils (Dewan Perwakilan candidates (KapanLagi.com, 2007). Political parties do not comply with the electoral g 2 women by placing them in unwinnable districts an POLICY BRIEF 7 the Regional General Election Commissions, political curing a minimum amount of women in elected leg- parties and other relevant bodies to promote women islative roles. candidates (KapanLagi.com, 2007). Political parties’ support of women can­ Political parties do not comply with the didates varied noticeably in the 2009 electoral gender quota and limit support election across levels of government and of women by placing them in unwinnable within political parties districts and/or slots on the party list I n 2004, the few women candidates who were placed in the first and second slots on candidate lists were I n 2009, among the nine parties that gained seats in the DPR, the Democrat Party (Partai Demokrat) con- tributed the highest percentage of women at 35% of placed in districts/electorates where voters favored the overall 18% elected. Gerindra and Hanura parties other parties. This situation is explained in Box 2 that (new parties in the 2009 election) contributed the describes the story of Noor Balqis during the 2009 lowest at 4% (KPU data). At the provincial and dis- campaign, when her political party changed her elec- trict level, these political parties varied greatly in their toral district (Siregar, 2006). This issue of district/elec- support of women candidates. The Democratic Party torate placement by political parties needs to be fur- had 25% women’s representation of the total women ther researched and regulated. represented at the provincial level while the Prosper- ous and Justice Party (PKS) had 7%. The Golkar Party Over 80% of elected provincial and district female led with the highest representation of women at the members and over 90% of national level female mem- district/city DPRD level with 20% women, while five of bers were placed in the first three positions on the bal- the top nine parties remained at or below 5% repre- lot paper or the party list of candidates. While these sentation (Puskapol-UI, 2010). Support of women can- numbers indicate some political party compliance with didates within individual political parties varied from affirmative action, they also reveal candidate ranking the DPR to the DPRD. For example, of the total seats affects voter choice. In light of the district/electoral that the PKB won in the election, 25% were assigned placement issue, holding the first slot on the party list to women at the national level and only 9% at the dis- does not guarantee a seat in the DPR. Unless political trict/city level. Figure 4 describes the disparity within parties are held political parties and their support of women at differ- Box 2: Impact of placement accountable for ent levels of the DPR. “At first, my party placed me in the the quota re- first position in North Sumatra I elec- quirement and toral district. I come from this area. I know people there and they know me are monitored very well. But my party then moved for their place- me to North Sumatra III electoral dis- trict. I do not know people here and ment of women they do not know me either. I think in both of these that is why I could not be elected.