Indonesia To Improve Women's Participation In Peace Guard

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - Indonesia will improve women's participation in the world peace guard, mainly in several conflict areas, the Minister of Female Empowerment and Child Protection Yohana Yembise said here on Monday.

Indonesian government has committed to comply with the agreement signed at the 61th Commission of the Status of Women conference, which was held in New York from March 13 to 24.

"Women participation remains important to maintain peace in the conflict regions; however, Indonesia has only 18 women in its peace troop," Yembise stated in Jakarta.

Therefore, the government aims to increase the number of women by 15 percent to 2,867 troops, which will be tasked in 10 international peace missions.

Beside policewomen and female troops, women from civil society also have an important role to assure peace and stability, an Indonesian delegation at the conference, Grata Indah Werdaningtyas, noted.

"A national peace guard needs to reconsider the role of a female civilian, who could be a doctor, volunteer, gender expert, negotiator, as well as a lawyer, to restore stability after war or conflict," Werdaningtyas stated.

However, assigning women in a conflict area for around six months remains a challenge for the Indonesian government.

Therefore, the Ministry will collaborate with Indonesian police and army to seek for women who would be willing to be part of the country's peace guard.

Women participation actually aims to introduce a gender-responsive culture for the peace troops who later will be assisting the survivors in the conflict areas, Werdaningtyas reiterated. (WDY)