VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

President Joko Widodo officially opened 2 women's meetings in Yogyakarta on Friday. The meetings are the 35th General assembly of the International Council of Women -ICW and the first national meeting of a thousand leaders of women's organizations from all over Indonesia. The President assured Indonesian women that Indonesia is a large country and it has a lot of women with great achievements. The government has 8 women ministers in the cabinet and this proves that the present government is very concerned on Indonesian women. Thus, President Joko Widodo calls for them to sincerely contribute for Indonesian nation.

"This is what I mean as the mother of the nation, who educates our children, as the successor to the future of the nation, who improves the mentality of this nation. That safeguards the morale of citizens and the community, who maintains tools for their children and grandchildren, who drives the economy of citizens and society. So, I agreed Mrs. Giwo conveyed the terms of the mother of the nation. I remind Indonesian women to become the mothers of the nation," President Joko Widodo said.

Meanwhile, Chairwoman of Kowani, Giwo Rubianto Wiyogo said that actually, the task of being a mother of the nation is an honor because the mission is to prepare a superior, characteristic and competitive generation of the nation. The concept of the nation’s mother has been proclaimed by women fighters before Indonesian independence.

“Indeed, the role of the mother of the nation is not a burden, but it’s something honorable by preparing young generation with character, excellence, competitiveness, innovation, creativity and having a militant national insight. And we do not want Indonesian women who have had the concept of the mother of the nation since 1935, before independence, if they are called ‘emak-emak’ or housewives,"said Giwo Rubianto Wiyogo.

The one thousand leaders meeting of women's organizations throughout Indonesia was first held by Kowani and supported by 15 state-owned enterprises. The meeting was held in conjunction with the 35th general assembly of the International Council of Women -ICW, the world women's organization whose age is now 130 years. (RRI Jogjakarta/Munarsih/Trans by Rhm)