SURABAYA – The Chairman of The House of Regional Representative of the Republic of Indonesia (DPD RI), AA LaNyalla Mahmud Mattalitti, encouraged the villagers to respect gender equality.
According to him, women have a major role in developing the community from the smallest circle which is family to the bigger one that is the state.
“I would invite and make the people, especially those who live in villages, to be aware of the equality issues such as equality rights and fair treatment towards women and children. They must get used to it,” said the chairman during his recess in East Java, Wednesday (9/3).
Therefore, LaNyalla supports the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection (KemenPPPA) to actualize the village Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with its program, Women Friendly and Child Care Village (DRPPA).
“With Women Friendly and Child Care Village, they are expected to no longer be a marginalized group in a patriarchal society. Because they are still vulnerable to become victims of physical and sexual violence all these times,” he continued.
This Chairman of the Advisory Board of the East Java Chamber of Commerce and Industry also added that women who are strong, healthy and have equality with men, will be able to create a great and excellent generation.
“Just as we know together, the first person who educates the children is a woman, it’s the mother. Thus, women’s role is very decisive to the quality of the upcoming generations,” he continued.
Chairman LaNyalla confessed that he often sees discriminations towards women that happen because of the culture, tradition, classic norms, or other point of views. And about this issue, he believes that the people should be given a good understanding.
“In fact, women’s role is not only about educating the children, serving the husband, or other obligations [around it]. There are also women who have to work and become the pillar of her family’s economy. They must take the husband’s role in earning money,” he explained.
LaNyalla wished that DRPPA’s program would run well, could synergize with activities in the village and then build a social base there wherein the people could change their mind and grow a positive perspective in responding to gender issues.
