Various INKLUSI Partner Products Exhibited Ahead of the 2024 Women's National Conference in Bali

Around 1,500 women were present in Bali. They attended the 2024 Women's National Conference to voice their aspirations.

KOMPAS/SONYA HELLEN SINOMBOR

The exhibition themed "Women for Mother Earth" held as part of the 2nd National Women's Conference in 2024 in Badung Regency, Bali, on Friday (19/4/2024). The exhibition featured works from representatives of civil society organizations who are members of the INKLUSI partner (a collaborative program between the Indonesian and Australian governments), originating from grassroots levels. It took place in the Balai Budaya Giri Nata Mandala building's concourse, the government center of Badung Regency.

BADUNG, KOMPAS — Representatives of civil society organizations who are members of INKLUSI partners (a collaboration program between the Governments of Indonesia and Australia) held a festival with the theme "Women for Mother Earth", Friday (19/4/ 2024), in Badung Regency, Bali. This activity was held the day before the peak of the 2024 2nd National Women's Conference which was also held in Badung.

A festival in the form of an exhibition of women's works at the grassroots level was held in the courtyard of the Giri Nata Mandala Cultural Hall in the center of the Badung Regency Government. The works consisted of crafts and food (processed foods) which, in addition to being exhibited, were also sold to visitors during the event.

Acting Minister of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection (PPPA) Titi Eko Rahayu explained that in addition to an educational exhibition, this activity is also filled with a dialogue. It is scheduled that there will be a dialogue for female participants in the national conference with PPPA Minister I Gusti Ayu Bintang Darmawati on Friday afternoon.

Also read: Ensure to Participate in Development, Thousands of Women Participate in National Conference

The exhibitors from representatives of 11 INKLUSI partner organizations who are the organizers of the 2024 Women's National Conference are the Empowerment of Women Headed of Families (PEKKA), Migrant CARE, the Women's Alternative Education Circle Institute (KAPAL), Aisyiyah, Eastern Indonesia Knowledge Exchange (BaKTI), Indonesian Women Headed Families (PKBI), Sasana Inclusion and Advocacy Movement for Disabled People (SIGAB), Partnership (partnership institution), Human Resources Study and Development Institute (Lakpesdam) , Christian Foundation Rehabilitation Center for Public Health (Yakkum), and Sumatran Women Able (Permampu).

KOMPAS/SONYA HELLEN SINOMBOR

Acting Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection (PPPA) Titi Eko Rahayu

The 2nd Women's National Assembly in 2024 is a collaboration between INKLUSI partners with the Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection (PPPA) and the Directorate of Family, Women, Children, Youth, and Sports of the Ministry of National Development Planning/National Development Planning Agency (Kementerian PPN/Bappenas), which will be held on April 19-20, 2024. The implementation of the 2nd Women's National Assembly in 2024 coincides with the commemoration of Kartini Day in 2024.

"The congress is an initiative and collaborative effort between the Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection and the National Development Planning Agency, with the collective action of civil society organizations supporting the INCLUSION program. We hope that this congress will belong to all Indonesian women without exception," said Titi Eko.

Marginalized group women

Misiyah, a representative of the INKLUSI collective action partner, stated that the 2nd Women's National Congress in 2024 in Bali is very significant for the participants. This is because almost 50 percent of the approximately 1,500 participants are women who come from marginalized groups or communities that are left behind.

"So, you can imagine that those who initially only came to the village hall were too afraid to meet with people in uniform and ran away, but then they started to muster up the courage to propose what they feel and think to the village, district, and even national government. This congress is something significant for them," said Misiyah.

Participants can write down their messages and hopes for women in the future.

Also read: Patriarchy Still Institutionalized, Women's Participation in Development Planning is Minimal

Even among the participants present, there were a number of women who lived in border and remote areas. Some of them have to use small boats to reach the district/provincial capital, and then fly to Bali.

Some participants from Java Island and West Nusa Tenggara traveled together to Bali for 20 hours by bus. They came at their own organizational expense.

KOMPAS/SONYA HELLEN SINOMBOR

Avianti, an organization assistant from the Christian Foundation for Public Health Rehabilitation Center (Yakkum), presented the cloth works of women with disabilities who received assistance from the Yakkum Rehabilitation Center at the "Women for Mother Earth" exhibition, held as part of the Women's National Assembly for the 2nd year in 2024, in Badung Regency, Bali, on Friday (April 19, 2024).

"What's interesting is that they didn't just come, but they came with their notes and proposals, starting from village discussions, to the online implementation of the 2nd Women's National Conference on March 26-27, 2024," said Misiyah.

Justin Anthonie from the Exhibition and Bazaar Team revealed that the "Women for the Earth of the Archipelago" exhibition is a series of the National Women's Congress 2024 festival. The exhibition also visualizes the support work of partner organizations of INKLUSI originating from 148 districts/cities.

"In the exhibition area, there is a space for learning and knowledge that showcases best practices from its nine main agendas. Then there will be a blank sheet of paper. On that sheet, participants can write their messages and hopes for what women in the future should be like," said Justin.

KOMPAS/SONYA HELLEN SINOMBOR

Participant of the 2024 Women's National Congress, Fitri Ramadani (far right), who is also the Chairperson of the Young Women's School in Pulau Sabutung, Pangkajene Islands Regency (Pangkep), South Sulawesi, holding the works of women in the islands on Friday (19/4/2024), in Badung, Bali.

Fitri Ramadani (25), Chair of the Sabutung Island Young Women's School, Pangkajene and Islands (Pangkep) Regency, South Sulawesi, who is a participant in the 2024 Women's National Conference in Bali, brought craft products made by women in the islands. These crafts include, among other things, miniature wooden boats and wooden flash drives.

Apart from these various crafts, local women also produce various food products, such as dodoi cake, seaweed, crabs and Moringa leaves. Their products are sold through marketplaces.

Avianti, an organizer from the Christian Foundation for Public Health (Yakkum) Rehabilitation Center, stated that during the 2024 Women's National Conference, she promoted Yakkum's products. This opportunity was also used to introduce Yakkum's assistance work towards people with disabilities.