Cheta Nilawaty P., Jakarta – Indonesia's Ministry of Human Development and Culture Coordinator stated that the scattered disability data among various ministries has led to ineffective disability inclusion programs.
The Deputy of Coordination for Family and Population Quality Improvement at the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture, Woro Srihastuti Sulistyaningrum, stated that national single data for people with disabilities is crucial for targeted programs.
"With valid and accessible unified data, every policy and development program will have a stronger and more measurable foundation," said Lisa, referred to as Wowo, during the opening of the 6th Inclusion Meeting held both online and offline in Durajaya Village, Cirebon, West Java, on Tuesday, September 2, 2025.
According to Lisa, the process of achieving national single data is not just an administrative registration process, but also identifying the diverse needs of individuals with disabilities. "Because accurate data will lead to fair, equal, and needs-oriented steps," she said.
Lisa explained that based on data from the Central Statistics Agency in 2024, more than 17.8 million Indonesians are people with disabilities. One-third of the people with disabilities have not completed primary education.
Furthermore, the participation of people with disabilities in the workforce is only 23.94 percent. This condition has a subsequent impact of higher poverty rates compared to the national average."This condition is exacerbated by the lack of public awareness, limited access to communication, and physical as well as digital facilities that are not fully disability-friendly," said Lisa.
Protection, realization, and respect for the rights of people with disabilities in Indonesia have a legal foundation. Some of them are Article 28H of the 1945 Constitution and Law Number 8 of 2016 concerning People with Disabilities.
In addition, there are six regulations derived from Law Number 8 of 2016 that have been issued by the government. In the 6th Inclusion Meeting, Lisa also urged people with disabilities to be more active in expressing their aspirations. Lisa added that people with disabilities understand their own needs.
"We do not want programs to run independently. More than that, the meaningful voice and participation of our disabled friends must be present in every process," she said.
The Inclusion Meeting is a biennial national agenda that provides a space for sharing, networking, and consolidating the disability movement, government, academics, development partners, and other stakeholders.
The 6th Inclusion Meeting in 2025 was held in Durajaya Village, Greget District, Cirebon Regency, West Java. The 6th Inclusion Meeting opened on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, and was attended by several institutions deemed to contribute to the disability inclusion movement. Some participants attended the 6th Inclusion Meeting online due to the ongoing non-conducive conditions.