Likupang, 16 February 2022. The two-day Women20 (W20) meeting in Likupang produced a number of recommendations emphasizing the need for women's economic empowerment and inclusion as the key to achieving the 2030 agenda with the support of digital technology. The meeting also agreed on the need for an integrated policy to eradicate discrimination against women in all sectors. Then, to fight for gender equality, there is a need for policies that must also be consistent in eradicating conservative gender norms deeply rooted in society.
Chair of Women20 Indonesia, Hadriani Uli Silalahi, said “It is great to see commitments from various countries that support women to reach their full potential as part of the global workforce to reduce the gender gap in labor force participation in G20 countries by 25% by 2025. Women's economic empowerment and inclusion are key in achieving the 2030 agenda for sustainable development, and technology is an enabler. Digitalization in various fields brings great potential to accelerate women's empowerment.”
In conveying the conclusion of the first W20 Presidency of Indonesia meeting, Co-Chair of W20 Indonesia, Dian Siswarini, stated, “To eliminate discrimination against women, all elements and stakeholders need, first, to collaborate in identifying the challenges and opportunities that exist. Second, work collectively to identify policies that W20 can implement in overcoming various discriminations, lack of regulations, a culture that inhibits women's active participation, and gross violations of human rights. Third, ensure that women are the main focus of Covid-19 recovery in the middle of the G20 Summit.”
Previously, at the opening session, Tuesday (15/2), the Minister of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection of the Republic of Indonesia, Bintang Puspayoga, said that the Covid-19 outbreak had impacted almost all aspects of life, including women. Data from 10 countries shows that reports of domestic violence increased by 25% - 111% in the first month of the pandemic. This problem also creates significant social and economic costs. In some countries, violence against women is estimated to cost countries up to 3.7% of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) or double what most governments spend on education.
“Therefore, women need to be empowered, have the ability to face difficulties, and be empowered to overcome the barriers imposed on them by socio-cultural norms and stereotypes, as well as other challenges, such as economic insecurity, risk, and vulnerability, as well as the impact of discrimination,” Bintang Puspayoga further explained.
In her presentation, Bathylle Missika as Head of Networks, Partnerships and Gender Division, OECD Development Center, raised three key issues, namely the Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) and sustainable collaboration with W20, the application of the SIGI lens in all priority issues of W20, and gender-sensitive policies in the context of Covid-19. She also provided three recommendations that can be carried out in sustainable practice.
First, facilitate women's access to finance and capital, including support for women-led businesses, especially during the current Covid-19 crisis. Second, ensure programs and policies that provide solutions to non-monetary barriers to entrepreneurship. Third, build financial literacy training opportunities that are tailored to the needs of women entrepreneurs and assist them through the stages of business development.
Meanwhile, Martina Rogato, as W20 Delegate of Italy, said that the acceleration of women's empowerment can be encouraged by focusing on labor, finance and entrepreneurship, digital, violence, and the environment. According to her, there is a need for a policy that focuses on eliminating discrimination and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) by paying attention to several things. She mentioned, among others, the involvement of women in decision making, legal reform and assessment, investment and funds, financial literacy and economic independence, empowering women in digital and finance, as well as equal education for all.
Chair of B20 Presidency of Indonesia 2022, Shinta Khamdani, paid attention to the challenges faced by the business world related to efforts to increase competence for women workers. According to her, these challenges include a lack of funds and resources for women entrepreneurs, limited channels for sharing knowledge, resources, and cross-border opportunities. In addition, according to her, many female workers are also not ready for jobs in the digital and economic fields; women are faced with greater job insecurity. Also, there are challenges of lack of leadership opportunities, as well as gender-based workplace violence, which is exacerbated by the pandemic.
Also present to open the event were the Governor of North Sulawesi, Olly Dondokambey; Co-Sherpa of G20 Indonesia, Dian Triansyah Djani; UN Women Indonesia, Country Representative, and ASEAN Liaisong, Jamshed Kazi; and President of the National Council of Women Indonesia, Dr Ir Giwo Rubianto Wiyogo M.Pd. The first meeting, which was held on a hybrid basis, was attended by around 500 participants, including 150 people who attended offline in Likupang. The participants came from various institutions as well as representatives from G20 member countries.
The entire W20 agenda until October 2022 is held in stages at several priority destination points in Indonesia. The implementation is in collaboration with International Knowledge Partners, UN agencies, civil society organizations, academia, government agencies to the private sectors.
After being held in Likupang, the next W20 side events to W20 Summit will be held in Batu, East Java, and Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, in March 2022; in Manokwari, West Papua, in May 2022; in Lake Toba, North Sumatra, in July 2022; and Denpasar, Bali, from September to October 2022.