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Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection's Women Rights Protection Deputy Ratna Susianawati during a webinar titled "Gap Trend in the World and Indonesia: Economical, Gender, and Ecological Context" here on Friday (March 4, 2022). ANTARA/Zubi Mahrofi/FR - 

Multi-party synergy, or pentahelix, has become the strength to realize gender equality, Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection's Women Rights Protection Deputy Ratna Susianawati stated.

"This means that gender equality is ensuring the distribution of roles, duties, and functions, so that the relation between women and men becomes a partnership," the deputy noted during a webinar on Friday.

"This issue cannot just be resolved by one institution," she affirmed.

Gender equality is not always about women but rather it is also about equal role, function, position, and workload between men and women, Susianawati emphasized.

"We cannot ignore the gap while talking about gender equality," Susianawati remarked.

"Women should be given a space within a certain segment for the decision-making process that can finally be fair and equal for all strata of society," she remarked.

Gender gap exists for several reasons, comprising patriarchal social and cultural values, gender bias products and regulations, incomprehensive and partial understanding of religion, the deputy highlighted.

In addition, the lack of confidence, determination, and consistency in women to fight for their rights, a mistaken perception and understanding by decision makers toward the meaning of gender equality and justice are other factors.

The government's commitment to realizing gender equality is unquestionable, Susianawati remarked.

This is apparent from the Constitution that provides assurance, protection, and rights' fulfillment that is also stipulated in other regulations and technical laws.

"Discussion on women's issue cannot be separated from Indonesia's commitment to ratifying Law No. 7 of 1984. This became a space that should be our collective responsibility," she affirmed.

Earlier, W20 Chairwoman Hadriani Uli Silalahi noted that the W20 will cooperate with the engagement group and working group in G20 to ensure that the issue of women and gender empowerment is included within the G20 declaration//ANT