Jakarta (29/01) – Indonesia's readiness for the 2022 G20 Presidency, especially in the issue of women's empowerment and gender equality, continues to be strengthened. After kick-off Ceremonial G20 Empower and Women20 (W20) on December 22, 2021, W20 has carried out and planned various agendas leading to the Grand W20 Summit event in July 2022 at Lake Toba, North Sumatra.

   Deputy for Gender Equality at the Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection (KemenPPPA), Lenny Rosalin emphasized that the success of the G20 Presidency, especially on the issue of women's empowerment and gender equality, cannot be separated from collaboration and commitment from various parties. In this case, the task of KemenPPPA, W20, and G20 Empower is to help ensure a more inclusive and gender-responsive post-pandemic economic recovery process.

   “Together, we must ensure that the post-pandemic economic recovery process is more inclusive and responsive to gender issues as issues experienced by Indonesian women and women from G20 countries. This is not only carried out by the government but also community institutions through W20, and the business world through G20 Empower, as well as other stakeholders, including women, to participate and collaborate," said Lenny at the Inauguration of the W20 and G20 Empower Secretariat Rooms in Jakarta (28/28). 01).

   W20 is one of the special groups or forums at the G20 that discusses strengthening positions and issues of women's empowerment and gender equality. W20 has determined the agenda and work themes to be discussed. Since 2021, KemenPPPA as the mother ministry has accompanied various discussions conducted by W20.

   Chair Women20 (W20) Indonesia, namely the Head of Foreign Affairs of the Indonesian Women's Congress (KOWANI), Hadriani Uli Silalahi explained that W20 has a mission to mainstream gender equality and women's empowerment into the declaration of the G20 leaders. W20 carries 4 (four) priority issues. First, to promote equality, security, and welfare by eliminating discrimination that hinders women's participation in the economy. Second, achieve economic inclusion by supporting MSMEs that are owned and managed by women. Third, addressing vulnerability to increase resilience, with a focus on women with disabilities and rural women. Fourth, gender responsive health.

   “We see for ourselves that the gap, especially regarding women's issues, is still very large. With that theme, W20 seeks to encourage that gap to be reduced. We have a strong advocacy strategy through gathering concrete commitments, alignment, and collaboration through events with other stakeholders, strategic partnerships with international organizations, and knowledge products formed in research and studies," explained Uli.

   Uli added that his party had also carried out and designed a number of agendas. Several W20 hybrid side events will take place in a number of cities in Indonesia such as Batu, Likupang, Banjarmasin, and Manokwari.

   "After kick off December 22, 2021, we have held a series of bilateral meetings with W20 member countries. We will also collaborate with various stakeholders, provincial and district/city governments to hold various side events. Especially next month (February), we will hold the first side event in Likupang, North Sulawesi with the theme of discrimination, and will be followed by agendas in various other regions, "said Uli.

   Uli explained that the implementation of the W20 in various regions was to show the world, especially the W20 countries, that Indonesia with many islands has the determination to recover together, especially after the pandemic period and to demonstrate efforts for gender equality and women's empowerment in various fields of development.