Indonesia Pushes Women’s Leadership and Gender Equality in ASEAN Vision 2045

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – Indonesian Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection (PPPA), Arifah Fauzi, reaffirmed the country’s commitment to strengthening women’s leadership and advancing gender equality across ASEAN.

She emphasized that such efforts are vital to building an inclusive and sustainable regional prosperity that ensures equal opportunities for women.

Arifah noted that gender equality in Indonesia rests on a strong constitutional foundation, further reinforced by the ratification of various international agreements safeguarding women’s rights.

“Gender equality and women’s leadership are integral to Asta Cita, the National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN), and the vision of Indonesia Emas 2045," Minister Arifah stated in a press briefing in Jakarta, Friday, October 2, 2026.

"Inclusive development continues to be strengthened to ensure women play a central role in driving Indonesia’s sustainable progress,” she added.

She highlighted Indonesia’s progress in women’s participation in decision-making, with female representation in the Regional Representative Council (DPD) reaching 37 percent. The government has also established a cross-sectoral National Task Force involving leaders from the executive, legislative, judiciary, and professional circles.

Arifah explained that the government has launched the National Care Economy Roadmap 2025–2045 to boost women’s workforce participation. The policy also aims to expand opportunities for women to hold strategic positions across national development sectors.

“The care economy is crucial to reducing the burden of unpaid care work that has long limited women’s employment opportunities. With fairer distribution of responsibilities, women can enter the formal labor market and build their careers,” she said.

She further stressed that regional collaboration is essential to open wider opportunities for women in ASEAN. Indonesia has proposed three strategic initiatives to ASEAN member states: strengthening the care economy, advancing digital skills and climate action, and enhancing data on women’s leadership.

“ASEAN can accelerate progress through stronger and more inclusive regional cooperation. Such collaboration is key to realizing the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 in a sustainable way,” Arifah concluded. (Misni Parjiati)