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View all search resultsWomen, peace and security and Indonesia’s foreign policy
We risk losing a bigger chance of peace if women are not afforded equal opportunity.
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T
he issue of women, peace and security is one of the priorities of Indonesia’s foreign policy. This priority is manifested also in our support for the empowerment of women as agents of peace.
Last year, Indonesia held two major initiatives to promote women’s contribution to peace and security.
The first was an event called Regional Training for Women, Peace and Security held in Jakarta from April 8 to 9, 2019. The training, attended by 60 young female diplomats from the region, was aimed at strengthening their capacity in peacemaking processes.
The second was the Dialogue on the Role of Women in Building and Sustaining Peace, held from Nov. 26 to 30. A platform designed to support Afghan women’s participation in their country’s peace process, the event was attended by 38 Afghan women from different backgrounds and regions, including conflict regions.
As a concrete follow-up to the dialogue, I inaugurated the first meeting of the Afghanistan-Indonesia Women’s Solidarity Network in Kabul on March 1, 2020. Needless to say, I was moved by the determination of Afghan women to play an active role in their country’s peace process, refusing to only be victims, and opting to be agents of peace.
I witnessed similar courage during my personal interaction with women affected by conflicts in different parts of the world, from Palestine to Rakhine state in Myanmar.
Women have unique skills and perspectives to offer in peace processes. They can build trust between parties, help reduce confrontation and communicate better with victims of conflict. Involving women will also help ensure their specific concerns are addressed in peace processes.
