The Beijing Platform for Action (BPFA) Women’s Conference, which is a a world conference to discuss women’s issues, is entering its 30th year in March 2025.
This year, the 30th anniversary of the BPFA (1995-2025) was held in New York on March 10-21, 2025 during the 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) at the United Nation headquarters.
The Indonesia government sent delegates to this general assembly, as did governments from other countries around the world.
Indonesian women activists who are members of the Indonesian Women’s Movement Awareness (GPPI) asked the Indonesian government to convey its commitment to women in Indonesia at the session. GPPI activist, Rita Serena pointed out a number of the problem that occur to Indonesian women, such as the fact that women’s representation in the Indonesian House of Representatives has never reached 30%.
“So, we convey that this commitment must be shown by Indonesian government in the session.”
GPPI representatives conveyed this during an online viewing (Nobar) of the opening of the Commission on the Status of Women 9CSW) which was also attended by Konde.co at the UN Women office in Jakarta, March 11, 2025. GPPI in collaboration with UN Women Indonesia watched and monitored the opening of the 30th anniversary of the BPFA
The theme of this year’s BPFA is Review and Assessment of the 30-year Implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Actions (BPFA) that contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
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The BPFA (Beijing Platform for Action) is an agreement of UN member states produced at the IV World Women’s Conference in Beijing in 1995 which asks for the commitment of UN countries to face the challenges of 12 critical areas of women’s lives which include women and poverty, women in education and training, women and health, and violence against women. In addition, the issue about women in situations of armed conflict, women in the economy, women in power and decision-making. Also, institutional mechanism for the promotion of women, women’s human rights, women and the media, women and the environment, and the girls.
“We expect the participation of the Government of Indonesia as a more meaningful Indonesian delegation considering that the current socio-economic situation is very special. We monitor the benefits and results brought,” said Rita Serena Kolibonso. GPPI sees that some progress should be celebrated on this anniversary, but progress has been very slow.
“The condition of women and girls existed in various places of life and must be ensured to participate meaningfully, have their voices heard and ensure the fulfillment of their rights. The GPPI network invites all parties to continue to monitor Indonesia’s commitments related to the 12 critical areas of women’s lives going forward,” said Rita Serena Kolibonso.
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Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection, Arifah Fauzi on the ministry’s website and in Antara media emphasized Indonesia’s commitment to accelerate the implementation of gender equality and women’s empowerment at the 69th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) ministerial meeting in New York. In the forum, Minister Arifah Fauzi conveyed three main approaches applied by the Government of Indonesia in improving women’s empowerment. The first approach is to mainstream women’s empowerment at all levels, starting from the grassroots with an approach that involves the whole community. The second approach, the Government of Indonesia mainstreams women’s empowerment and leadership in all sectors. The third approach is for Indonesia to invest in women’s empowerment.
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The 69th CSW session was opened by UN Secretary-General António Guterres and attended by approximately 203 country government representatives. Guterres stated that around the world, achievements related to gender equality that have been hard fought for have suffered setbacks, for example in reproductive rights being attacked and equality initiatives being ignored. He also expressed his gratitude to civil society organizations that have guarded this situation.
In the series of CSW 69th session, Minister of PPPA, Arifah Fauzi as a representative of the delegation of the Government of the Republic of Indonesia attended and delivered a national statement at the Ministerial Roundtable session (ministerial meeting at CSW 69 session). The Ministerial Roundtable session is one of the formal sessions at the CSW69 session, where each country submits a national statement in accordance with the theme of the session. The minister of PPPA also attended a number of bilateral meetings with several countries and other side events.
Commissioner of the National Commission on Violence Against Women, Maria Ulfah Anshor, who was also present at the Nobar CSW discussion and Nobar event in Jakarta, also said that the root of the problems of women in CSW 69th is the problem of patriarchy.
“The root of the problem for women in this world is patriarchy.”
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GPPI as a network of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in 2024 has submitted a civil society review on the implementation of BPFA+30 in Indonesia (review as input to ESCAP regional and CSW69). The writing of the review is a contribution of CSOs in monitoring the achievements of the BPFA based on data from activities in society and the Government of Indonesia. one of the agendas of the 69th CSW session is that a political declaration document will be agreed on the last day of the session on March 21, 2025.
In addition, each government will also submit statements and achievement on the implementation of the BPFA and SDGs.
Adriana Venny from GPPI sees that a number of women’s issues in Indonesia, such as the PPRT (Protection of Domestic Workers) Bill as a gender-responsive policy must be passed immediately. Next is the cancellation of all discriminatory local regulations/ policies and the practice that endanger women and girls, such as genital injuries to girls that still occurs, as well as child marriage and forced marriage in the name of customs.
“It is also about freedom from violence, stigma, and stereotypes: related to the issue of SRHR (Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights). Also, the issue of safe abortion is directly related to reducing maternal mortality rate (MMR), which is high due to unsafe abortion. Comprehensive sexual education is also very important so that women can avoid violence and unwanted pregnancies.”
Other things that GPPI wrote about poverty eradication, social protection and decent work. Intolerance, discrimination, racism still occur, including discriminatory policies spread throughout Indonesia must be eliminated because they contribute to impoverishment.
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Intersectionality issues such as the most vulnerable groups, LGBTIQ groups are most vulnerable to persecution, stigma, difficulty getting a job and violated human rights and need protection. As well as the importance of RAN P3AKS (National Action Plan on the Protection and Empowerment of Women and Children in Social Conflict), national strategic projects should not cause conflict and criminalization of local and indigenous communities, including indigenous women. RAN P3AKS must be able to protect them.
“The presence of the Indonesian Delegation led by the Minister of PPPA in the 69th CSW session, we hope, will show the confirmation of Indonesia’s commitment to the fulfillment of the non-negotiable rights of women and girls,” said Rita Serena Kolibonso.
The 30th anniversary of the implementation of the BPFA (1995-2025) in the event of the 69th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) will close on March 21, 2025.
(Keterangan foto: Aktivis perempuan nonton bersama siaran tunda Pembukaan Sidang Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) ke-69 di PBB, yang membahas BPFA+30 di kantor UN Women, Jakarta pada Selasa (11/3/25)/ Luviana/Konde.co)
(Translator: Theresia Pratiwi Elingsetyo Sanubari)
