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ustralia is committed to providing more assistance for women empowerment in Indonesia, including by providing basic needs such as healthcare and education.

AusAID Indonesia director Jacqui De Lacy said many Indonesian women were still facing challenges in various fields, especially health and education.

“Not all Indonesian women can afford to go to the health center to deliver their baby. They don’t have access to qualified midwives, and are relying more on traditional midwives. This leads to high maternal mortality in Indonesia,” she told journalists.

Citing an example, De Lacy said that one in 97 women in Indonesia was likely to die in childbirth due to a lack of access to health services, while in Australia that ratio was one in 13,300.

One million children in Indonesia still do not have access to secondary school, De Lacy said.

“We are working with the Indonesian government so more children can go to junior high school and complete their nine-year basic schooling,” she said, at the opening of a photography exhibition titled “Celebrating 100 Years of International Women’s Day” to commemorate the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day, which falls every March 8.

The photo exhibition, held from March 7 to 13 in Pacific Place Mall, showcases Indonesian female leaders and women empowered by Australia’s development program.

School teachers, healthcare workers and small business owners are featured in the exhibition as well as prominent Indonesian women, including Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu and National AIDS Commission secretary Nafsiah Mboi, who is leading efforts in fighting HIV/AIDS.

Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Minister Linda Amalia Sari said that the government continued to work to ensure gender equality by developing a broad partnership to provide adequate access to a wide range of services, including health and education, for all Indonesian people.

“Women are central both in development and as leaders of change, so both men and women should have equal access to any kind of service,” she told journalists.

De Lacy said Australia was committed to supporting Indonesian women, so that their voices could be heard and their rights could be promoted and protected.

“Australia is taking active measures through its international development program to advance gender equality,” she said, adding that empowered women could benefit their children, families and communities.

For Australia, Indonesia remains the most important partner among developing countries, she said.

“We are neighbors, and Australia cares a lot about Indonesia’s developments,” De Lacy said.

AusAID supports women through a range of initiatives, from training nurses and midwives to improving income and access to markets for women living in poor rural areas.

She said the photo exhibition would hopefully provide clear images of the strength of Indonesia and Australia’s cooperation in empowering women in both countries.

“There are a lot of people who do not know about the impact of poverty on women and the need to empower women,” she said

De Lacy said the exhibition was expected to encourage people to learn about these issues and learn about the support that Australia was providing Indonesia. (ebf)