RIO DE JANEIRO, OCTOBER 9, 2024. During the Women 20 (W20) Summit in Rio de Janeiro, held from September 31 to October 4, 2024, the Indonesian delegation, led by Hadriani Uli Silalahi and Dian Siswarini, firmly called for inclusive policies to promote gender equality and empower women. As part of the G20 discussions, the event highlighted Indonesia’s dedication to fostering long-term, impactful changes for women across sectors like business, education, and technology.
The Chair of W20 Indonesia's Presidency, Hadriani Uli Silalahi, presented an overview of the presidencies of Indonesia, India, Brazil, South Africa, and the United States. Following her, W20 Indonesia Co-Chair, Dian Siswarini, delivered a presentation on women's entrepreneurship, specifically addressing access to finance, capital, and markets. W20 delegate Farahdibha Tenrilemba discussed recommendations related to the care economy, while delegate Tantri Dyah Kiranadewi focused on progress in policies and programs among G20 members.
Hadriani Uli Silalahi highlighted the importance of the W20 recommendations in advancing gender equality. She remarked that the document serves as both a guide for G20 member countries and a vital instrument for enhancing women's participation in various economic sectors.
"The recommendations provided by W20 are not only essential for advancing gender equality but also represent a strategic move to empower women economically within the context of global development," stated Hadriani Uli Silalahi.
Meanwhile, W20 Indonesia Co-Chair, Dian Siswarini, emphasized, "Gender equality is not just a goal; it is the key to unlocking the full potential of our global economy. By empowering women, we empower nations. Through initiatives like Sisternet, we demonstrate that community-based practical approaches can create lasting impacts. It’s time to bring these models to the global stage."
This year, Brazil holds the presidency for the G20 events, including the historic Women 20 (W20) meeting, one of the key engagement groups focused on gender equality and women's empowerment. From September 31 to October 4, 2024, representatives from W20, the public and private sectors, academia, and civil society leaders from around the world gathered to discuss and promote the implementation of policies supporting the global gender equality agenda. The meeting centers on endorsing a Communiqué or important recommendations presented to the G20 presidency.
This year's W20 agenda centers on five key pillars: entrepreneurship, the care economy, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), climate justice, and gender-based violence. Each pillar incorporates an intersectional approach that takes into account race and ethnicity. The summit also aims to strengthen women's participation in the global economy, society, and politics, with the intention of advancing inclusive policies that promote women's empowerment. Alongside the Indonesian delegation, representatives from other G20 nations, such as Australia, India, Argentina, Italy, the United States, Mexico, Japan, Canada, and more, were also present.
"Gender equality and women's empowerment are urgent issues that demand the focus of all nations," Dian emphasized. She is convinced that international collaboration is essential for creating meaningful change, and platforms like W20 offer countries the chance to exchange ideas, share best practices, and develop inclusive and sustainable policies. At W20 Indonesia, the Sisternet program, dedicated to women's economic empowerment, has achieved notable success, receiving the Satya Lencana Wira Karya award from President Joko Widodo.
Furthermore, Dian underscored the importance of W20 in promoting dialogue among nations and advocating for a more comprehensive gender equality agenda. Through W20, G20 member nations can work together to develop policies that support women, addressing not only economic empowerment but also access to education, technology, and the elimination of violence against women.
Uli added that women's economic empowerment is key to achieving sustainable development at the global level. In Indonesia, approximately 65.5 million MSMEs exist, with 64% of them owned by women. By improving women's access to economic opportunities, countries can create a more inclusive and competitive environment. She hopes these recommendations can be promptly adopted by G20 member nations and lead to significant impacts for women worldwide.
W20 2024 calls on G20 leaders to strengthen their commitment to achieving women's economic empowerment and gender equality. In the latest communiqué in Brazil, W20 urged for concrete actions to reduce the gender participation gap in the workforce by 25% by 2025, in line with the Brisbane commitment of 2014. Additionally, W20 emphasized the importance of closing the digital divide, increasing women's participation in STEM fields, implementing funding codes for women entrepreneurs, eliminating violence against women, and investing in social protection and service infrastructure.
W20 also encourages G20 leaders to track and publicly report on progress in investments supporting women through a standardized G20 gender dashboard. They advocate for funding to collect gender-sensitive data and a commitment to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG-5) on gender equality by 2030. With the implementation of these initiatives, W20 believes that economic and social growth will be further enhanced, strengthening the resilience of G20 nations in facing global challenges.
Through Brazil's G20 presidency in 2024, attended by over 1,000 participants from various countries, the recommendations put forth by the Indonesian delegation will be instrumental in crafting policies that advance gender equality in the future. Implementing these initiatives will ensure a more inclusive and prosperous future for women around the world.