Strengthening Women's Political Participation in Indonesia

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The purpose of this report is to give an overview of the debates and discussions that resulted from International IDEA’s gender activities in Indonesia in 2002. These events were timely and contributed to general discourse on the issue of women’s political representation and participation in politics that dominated much of the political agenda. This included the debate on the adoption of quotas for women in the electoral process, a debate which culminated in the passage of a new Electoral Law in February 2003, which carries the provision that political parties should consider including women as 30 per cent of all electoral candidates.

A number of important activities were organised by International IDEA in partnership with Indonesian and regional organisations, including an Asian Study Visit of Indonesian politicians and activists to India, Thailand and the Philippines in August 2002. The Asian Study visit was followed by a National Conference on Women in Politics in Jakarta in September 2002, and two Provincial Workshops in South Sulawesi in September and in North Sumatra in October 2002.

These activities provided a forum to gather national, provincial and international experiences on three themes: increasing women’s political participation through constitutional and electoral reform, including quotas; looking beyond numbers to strengthening women’s political participation inside parliament; and creating links between civil society and political institutions. This report is structured around these three themes, drawing on the information that was gathered during the Asian Study Visit, the National Conference and Provincial Workshops. In this way, it is hoped that the report will serve not just as a record of activity but also as a reference and information document for ongoing discussions and planning regarding women’s political participation in Indonesia.

• List of acronyms
• Chapter 1 Introduction
• Chapter 2 Increasing Women's Political Participation
• through Constitutional and Electoral Reforms
• Chapter 3 Beyond Numbers: Strengthening Women's Political Participation
• Chapter 4 Creating Links Between Civil Society and Political Institutions
• Chapter 5 Conclusion

• Opening Speech by the State Minister for Women's Empowerment
• Appendix I Conference and Workshop Reports

I N D I A

• Increasing Women's Participation Through Constitutional And Electoral Processes
• Increasing Women's Political Participation through the Electoral Process and the Constitution
• Some Impressions from India: A Lesson on Reservation Seats and Gender Issues
• Constitutional and Electoral Processes that Side with Women (Women's Empowerment Strategy in the Transitional Era)
• Appendix II Conference and Workshop Reports

P H I L I P P I N E S

• Comparative Study on Women's Political Participation in the Philippines
• Developing Governments Responsibilities through the Empowerment of Civil Society
• Increasing Women's Political Participation from the Perspective of the Constitution and the Electoral Process
• The Political Participation and Empowerment of Women
• Increasing Women's Political Participation Through Constitutional and Electoral Processes
• Appendix III Conference and Workshop Reports

T H A I L A N D

• Learning from Thailands Experience in Building Inter-Organization Cooperation to Change Gender Equity-Oriented Policies
• Creating Links Between Civil Society and Political Institutions to Ensure Responsive Government
• The Reinforcement of Women's Political Participation
• The Role of Civil Society in Increasing Women's Participation in Thai Politics

About the Contributors

List of Study Visit Participants

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