Alvin Darlanika Soedarjo, Jakarta – Analysts and observers say political parties still lack the vision and the will to reach the ultimate goal of having women make up at least 30 percent of their membership.
"All the major political parties support the idea that women should fill more seats in parliament. However, their agendas have yet to reflect this," said Sri Budi Eko Wardani, director of the University of Indonesia political study center.
Wardani was speaking Tuesday at a seminar on women's representation in legislation, saying most parties only touched on the subject in general meetings instead of setting up a special policy discourse.
"The subject of women in politics is missing or deliberately omitted from discussions in the consolidation of democracy," she said, adding that the 30 percent quota was an unwritten international convention.
Despite positive reactions to gender mainstreaming, all main parties said the issue of giving women greater access to politics had already been addressed, Wardani said.
She based her comments on previous in-depth interviews with 16 top officials from seven political parties, which have a total of 62 women (11.5 percent) out of 550 legislators in the House of Representatives.
The seven parties are Golkar, Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), United Development Party (PPP), National Mandate Party (PAN), People's Awakening Party (PKB), Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and Democratic Party (PD).
"So far, only PAN and PKB have pledged to increase the number of female members, as shown in their budget planning," said Wardani.
She said the 2003 Political Party Law urges parties can have 30 percent female members, although it is not mandatory.
Zulkifli Hasan, a PAN legislator, said his party wanted to reach the 30 percent quota and welcomed more aspiring women to join the party. "Any member can become the chairperson or secretary-general of the party, based on their performance."
Ida Fauziyah, chairwoman of PKB faction at the House, said that based on her observations, female legislators were not placed in strategic positions. "Women have yet to become the decision-makers."
She said that PKB needed to discuss whether to introduce affirmative action to achieve the 30 percent female quota inside its party, or to select people based on their performance regardless of gender. "Hopefully, in the 2014 elections, political parties will already have 30 percent female members," Ida said.
Golkar legislator Ferry Mursyidan Baldan said obstacles in reaching the percentage could be solved by regulating the matter through law. "An article in the Political Party Law should be revised to secure women's positions."