The KAPAL Perempuan Institute: Celebrating Women through Women Cultural Festival in Jakarta

Supported by MAMPU, The KAPAL Perempuan Institute held a Cultural Festival entitled 1001 Stories of Women of Ciliwung for Equality, Peace and Poverty Eradication in East Jakarta’s sport hall (GOR) on Thursday (8/12). This festival aimed to share stories of poor women’s struggles, especially from KAPAL’s Informal’s Women School (Sekolah Perempuan) in earning their rights for health care and social services in Indonesia. This event also served as medium to share information on the next gubernatorial election in Jakarta, in hope the next governor will answer to the needs of women in Jakarta.

Deputy V of Indonesia Presidential Staff Office, Jaleswari Pramodhawardani opened the ceremony. Following that, Women of Cilliwung storytelling and public dialogue on Women Political Agenda on Jakarta Development took place. Both raised social protections issues such as women’s health in Ciliwung and inequality in accessing social services for women. Attendees urged government to pay extra attention on women’s welfare; National Health Insurance (JKN) especially the contribution assistance recipients (PBI) mechanism was heavily discussed. In addition, people of Ciliwung also expressed their hope that poor women could have equal opportunities in Jakarta’s developments in all stages; decision-making, planning, implementation and monitoring. They also demand government to support the implementation of Governor Regulation No. 58/2012 on gender responsive planning and budgeting in the Local Mid-Term Development Planning (RPJMD) of 2017 – 2022.

Attended by more than 500 people from the government, members of civil society organisations, scholars, press and members of Sekolah Perempuan, the festival also brought cultural and art performances, monologue on women’s double burden, Women of Cilliwung political declaration and exhibition of Most Significant Stories (MSCs). Though MSCs, participants could also read women’s real stories on their everyday struggles. Issues of violence and access to social services became the common themes. women and children violence issues arose in their communities.

Director of The KAPAL Perempuan Institute, Misiyah stated, “Women empowerment is not merely about economic empowerment. It has a bigger meaning. Empowerment, in this case, is about how to raise women’s and others’ awareness on women’s rights on education, health and politics”.

Hopefully, public would be aware of the importance in protecting women’s and children’s rights in Indonesia.