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Women's Day: Build on traditions to empower the nation
In Aceh, women are traditionally in charge of the household, responsible for carrying out ceremonies marking births and deaths, managing domestic and agricultural chores and raising children.
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Female dancers – who perform the Bines dance, a traditional dance from Gayo, Aceh –take a selfie during. (JP/Hotli Simanjuntak)
O
ne of my most cherished gifts, received on the eve of my wedding last December, was a beautiful carving of five seated women dancing the Acehneserateb meuseukat. This remarkable form of female music, dance and body percussion is surely not only a quintessential part of West Acehnese identity but also a living symbol that sets us thinking of how tradition, courage and a pioneering spirit can be woven together to take women forward as active agents in a rapidly changing world.
The verses sung throughout this dance are not only beautiful but more importantly, call for strength and hope, reminding the community of the power of Allah whenever devastation strikes. The song reminds one of our national heroine from Aceh, Cut Nyak Dien, who dedicated her life to resistance during the Dutch occupation. This International Women’s Day, we thank the Acehnese leader and others like her for their struggle.
Founded on March 8, 2009, to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievement of women, more than ever this year Women’s Day calls for communities across Indonesia and the world to think, speak and act in the light of gender inclusiveness.
Among the 17 global Sustainable Development Goals, the fifth goal refers to gender equality. It sets out to “empower all women and girls”, stating that “providing women and girls with equal access to education, health care, decent work and representation in political and economic decision-making processes will fuel sustainable economies and benefit societies and humanity at large”. Thus, the goal can only be fulfilled if the needs of women receive the same attention as the needs of men.
