Camelia Pasandaran – President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Thursday demanded a review of the increasing numbers of discriminatory bylaws being enacted by regional governments throughout Indonesia. The bylaws relate to the treatment of women and religion.
Linda Gumelar, the minister for women's empowerment and child protection, quoted Yudhoyono as saying the central government should not only focus on eradicating unfair regional taxation or economic laws, but also evaluate "discriminatory" social and cultural legislation.
The National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) says that discriminatory laws that limited women's rights to free expression and gainful employment rose from 154 in 2010 to 189 in 2010.
Commission member Andy Yentriyani, speaking during a news conference after meeting Yudhoyono at the Presidential Office, said the figure did not include three new regional laws enacted against the Ahmadiyah sect, which is being actively persecuted.
Linda said most of the laws were found in the province of Aceh and municipality of Tangerang on the outskirts of Jakarta.
Women in Tangerang caught outside alone after midnight were considered prostitutes, she said.
In South Pesisir district, West Sumatra, teachers and students at high schools must wear Islamic clothing, while Ahmadi women suffer a higher degree of oppression than those from state-recognized religions.
The United Nations Development Program Gender-Related Development Index, released in March, places Indonesia in 96th position out of 109 countries.
Linda said her ministry would evaluate the bylaws in conjunction with the Justice and Human Rights Ministry, Komnas Perempuan and lead agency the Home Affairs Ministry.
The process would begin in March and involve speaking to the individual local governments, she said, adding it was hoped the process would be finished by the end of the year.
"We will start it this March, we will review the most flaw bylaw, but we will hear the opinion of the local government," Linda said. "Many of the districts bylaws limited the rights of women as citizen."
The output of the team will be submitted to the Home Affairs Ministry. The team is targeted to finish the work by the end of the year.