Jakarta (ANTARA) - A senior Indonesian lawmaker said International Women’s Day should serve as momentum to strengthen national awareness of gender equality and accelerate efforts to ensure justice and equal opportunities for women.
Lestari Moerdijat, deputy speaker of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR), said meaningful progress toward gender equality requires strong commitment from all sectors of society as well as policies that create structural change.
“Commitment to justice and equality for women cannot be fully realized without support from all parties and policies that drive structural change in society,” she said in a statement in Jakarta on Sunday.
Moerdijat said this year’s International Women’s Day theme, “Give to Gain,” highlights the importance of collaboration, generosity and social investment in advancing gender equality.
She added that the observance of International Women’s Day during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan offers a timely opportunity to reflect on values such as empathy, justice and social solidarity.
According to her, those values closely align with the spirit of the global campaign to promote women’s rights and equal opportunities.
Moerdijat said the moment should remind society that the struggle for gender equality is not solely the responsibility of the government but requires participation from all elements of society.
International Women’s Day, observed annually on March 8, also serves as a reminder of the persistent challenges women continue to face in many sectors, including the economy, politics and protection from violence, she said.
She cited the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2025, which placed Indonesia 97th out of 148 countries with a gender equality score of 0.692.
The ranking reflects ongoing gaps in economic participation, political representation, educational access and health outcomes between men and women.
Moerdijat also referred to findings from the National Women’s Life Experience Survey (SPHPN) 2024, which showed that one in four Indonesian women aged 15 to 64 has experienced physical or sexual violence during her lifetime.
She said the data highlight that gender equality and the protection of women remain critical issues requiring stronger attention from policymakers and society.
According to Moerdijat, the figures demonstrate that achieving equal opportunities for women remains a major challenge in Indonesia.
She expressed hope that this year’s International Women’s Day would strengthen collective awareness and encourage more concrete actions to promote justice and equality for Indonesian women.
