VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

VOINews, Jakarta - Women's Empowerment and Child Protection Minister Bintang Puspayoga has emphasized that women must not be left out of peace and security agendas.

"Women are strong peace activists and capable negotiators," she said while delivering her remarks at the ASEAN Women Peace and Security (WPS) Summit here on Thursday.

At the conference themed "High-Level Dialogue to Advance the Implementation of the Regional Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security," Puspayoga observed that conflicts have a profound and often disproportionate and harmful impact on women and girls.

She added that women and girls are more vulnerable to gender-based violence that is worsened by conflict.

"To this end, women's participation is very meaningful in the peace process to improve the effectiveness, legitimacy, and sustainability of peace," she said.

According to the minister, women have a natural sensitivity that can help build a sense of mutual respect and inclusivity among various groups.

However, she said, in conflict prevention, peace negotiation, and post-conflict reconstruction, women are often viewed as weak, and their voices are often underestimated.

She added that, as the chair of ASEAN in 2023, Indonesia has picked the theme "ASEAN Matters: Epicentrum of Growth," which symbolizes the country's commitment to increasing the significance and relevance of ASEAN in the region as well as on the global stage.

She expressed the hope that the ASEAN WPS conference would help strengthen commitment and collaborative action to fully advance the agenda of women, peace, and security.

"Let us identify concrete steps and real actions regarding how women implement peace and security that will bring transformative changes across ASEAN," she said.

The minister expressed optimism that when women are empowered and children are protected well, prosperity will be available for all.  (Antaranews)