Arya Dipa, Bandung – A member of the Consortium for Women in West Java, Fridolin Berek, said female legislative candidates needed to create a joint working network, saying that unity among women would be effective in realizing a gender quota in the House of Representatives (DPR).

"The 'sisterhood' does not aim to remove the roles of political parties but is needed to strengthen ties among women who work across parties and organizations to fight for a shared mission: realizing a gender quota in the legislature," said Fridolin in a discussion in Bandung on Saturday.

The network, she said, could be used to share funding responsibilities and strategies in their efforts to achieve the 30 percent gender quota in the House.

"The funds jointly collected could be used to hold public discussions. These methods could be effective to implement the 30 percent gender quota not only for candidate lists but also legislative seats," said Fridolin, who explained the idea in front of legislative candidates.

Women currently hold an average of 25 percent of total 100 seats in the West Java Legislative Council.

Fridolin said the General Elections Commission had issued a regulation requiring each political party to uphold the 30 percent gender quota in their legislative candidate lists.

"The regulation has been fulfilled, but the most important thing is how we can ensure the percentage that has exceeded 30 percent can be maintained until after the election," she said. (ebf)