Pro-women's policy advocacy movements in Indonesia : Struggles and reflections

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

The struggle of the Indonesian women’s movement to advocate for pro-women legislation during the period 1998 to 2017 has had significant achievements and lessons to demonstrate. This paper reports on how women’s groups organized themselves for policy advocacy under the Jaringan Kerja Prolegnas Pro Perempuan or JKP3 (the Network for Pro-Women National Legislation Programme) in the Reformation Era. This is based on literature review, observation and participation in various activities conducted by the network and an analysis of field notes and documents. The network faces significant obstacles and challenges from external parties, namely the government, legislators in parliament, and the general public. The obstacles and challenges faced include lack of concern and understanding about gender equality, rejection of pro-women perspectives, certain religious teachings which limit women’s rights or roles, lack of concern on the part of the bureaucracy and the political attitudes of legislators. Meanwhile, the network also faces various significant challenges of the internal dynamics among different groups. These lead us to identify significant lessons about approaches and strategies. The paper ends with discussion and recommendations for further advocacy work and research on pro-women policy advocacy.

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Perjuangan gerakan perempuan Indonesia untuk mengadvokasikan kebijakan yang peduli atau berpihak pada perempuan selama periode 1998 hingga 2017 menunjukkan keberhasilan dan pembelajaran yang signifikan. Artikel ini melaporkan bagaimana kelompok-kelompok perempuan berorganisasi bersama untuk advokasi kebijakan di bawah Jaringan Kerja Prolegnas Pro Perempuan (JKP3) di masa reformasi. Tulisan didasarkan pada reviu literatur, pengamatan dan partisipasi di berbagai aktivitas yang dilaksanakan oleh jaringan, serta analisis terhadap catatan lapangan dan dokumen. Jaringan menghadapi berbagai kendala dan tantangan dari luar, baik itu pemerintah, anggota legislatif di parlemen, dan masyarakat umum. Kendala dan tantangan yang dihadapi menyangkut kurangnya kepedulian dan pemahaman mengenai kesetaraan gender, serta penolakan terhadap perspektif yang berpihak pada perempuan. Ada pula ajaran atau interpretasi agama yang membatasi hak dan peran perempuan, kurangnya kepedulian birokrat, serta sikap yang terlalu politis dari anggota legislatif. Sementara itu, jaringan juga menghadapi berbagai tantangan signifikan terkait dinamika bekerja bersama di dalam jaringan. Ini mengajak kita untuk mengidentifikasi pembelajaranpembelajaran yang berarti mengenai pendekatan dan strategi. Tulisan diakhiri dengan diskusi dan rekomendasi mengenai kerja-kerja advokasi selanjutnya, serta mengenai riset terkait kebijakan yang peduli pada perempuan.

목차 (Table of Contents)

• Introduction
• Women’s group activism in the post-new order era and policy advocacy
• Research methods
• Experience of women’s groups in fighting for pro-women legislation
• Establishing the JKP3
• Major debates on the draft law on pornography
• Major debates on the draft law on pornography
• Urgency of the law on gender equality and gender equity in Indonesia
• Strategies to influence parliament, government, and the wider public
• Knowledge of relevant umbrella laws and the policy advocacy process
• The importance of prior research
• Close and timeliness monitoring and lobbying
• Maintaining network dynamics
• Tackling sensitive religious issues
• Conclusion
• References