Adisti Sukma Sawitri, Jakarta – The involvement of non-governmental organizations and foreign donors in rebuilding the tsunami-ravaged province of Aceh has yet to provide women with a good standard of living, a new book argues.
It says widows are still struggling to feed themselves and their children without proper attention from either NGOs or the government.
The book, titled "Still Standing Tall", released by the Christian relief and development organization World Vision, says widows face a series of cultural restrictions that deny them equal access to the labor market.
During focus group discussions in several districts across Aceh, book author Patricio Cuevas found that in many rural communities, women must first seek permission from their husbands or parents to work. Some are permitted to work only inside their houses and accompanied by other women.
Cuevas found local authorities and the majority of NGOs promoted traditional kinds of labor that were already available, such as sewing, pastry-making and handicrafts, without offering training in marketing or business planning.
"Reconstruction programs must make these women a priority and provide them with more income-generating activities as well as training to develop their skills in managing small-scale businesses," World Vision deputy director Eddy Sianipar said Friday.
He suggested that major donors like USAID, AUSAID and the World Bank should consider these gender issues in their reconstruction and rehabilitation programs.
Acehnese women's activist Suraiyya Kamaruzzaman said she believed Acehnese women were strong and resilient enough to support their families, and all they needed was a chance to improve their skills. "Don't let them be victims of the patriarchal tradition," she told The Jakarta Post.
Meanwhile, the Aceh and Nias Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Agency (BRR) expressed its commitment to putting gender issues at the center of its policies. The agency has released a policy framework outlining strategic actions in several areas.
It vowed to provide equal access to the economy and education by making scholarships and vocational training available to youth regardless their gender. The agency also plans to increase its care for pregnant women through skillful midwives and paramedics to assist births at the village and subdistrict level.
BRR chief Kuntoro Mangkusubroto said all parties, including NGOs involved in the reconstruction and rehabilitation programs, should support the framework. "It will improve the reconstruction process because it will serve all the needs of the tsunami survivors, including women and children," he said.