Vice President says, women now have better roles

Jakarta-wapresri.go.id. Vice President Jusuf Kalla said the educational and technological advances have led women to have a better role in social and political affairs.

“The role of women in Indonesia is more recognized than other countries, including the United States. … .. We all know that in an election in the United States a female presidential candidate was again not elected as a president. In Indonesia, we once had a woman female president and governor. In the current cabinet, 24% of ministers are women,” said the Vice President in the handover ceremony of Anugerah Parahita Ekapraya (APE) awards 2016, at the Vice Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday (Dec. 21).

Furthermore, the Vice President said that, despite the benefit for women, technological developments also have a negative impact, especially for children. The impact of technology, he added, resulting in children free to find, read, and watch anything. Therefore, the Vice President advised, the social effects of technology must be controlled to avoid causing harm to the child.

“The biggest role (of this control) is in the household. … So, the role should be started from the household, community, region and up to eventually national level,” said the Vice President.

Earlier in her report, the Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Yohana Yambise said Anugerah Parahita Ekapraya awards are a recognition from the government for those committing in carrying out three dimensions of women’s empowerment, protection of women and children, and the fulfillment of children’s rights. The awards have been given since 2004.

“For 2016, APE awards are given to 12 ministries/state agencies, 17 provincial governments, and 84 regencies/cities. The awards are given to the Primary, Associate, Major, and Mentor categories,” said the minister.

On that occasion, the Vice President also handed over the awards for the highest category that is the Mentor to the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Public Works and Housing, the Ministry of National Development Planning, the Ministry of Agriculture, East Java province administration, West Java province administration, Central Java province administration, Yogyakarta province administration, Jakarta administration, Riau Islands province administration, Surabaya city, Denpasar city, Bandung city, Badung regency, and Rembang regency.