VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Indonesian National Police had a Formed Police Unit and Individual Police Officer Barret Ceremony at National Police’s Multi-purpose Training Center, in Cikeas, Bogor Regency,West Java on Sunday (16/12). The ceremony was given for Garuda Bhayangkara force in UN peace mission. National Police’s International Relations Division Head Insp. Gen. Maltha said this year Indonesia deployed more personnel compared to previous years. The increase was according to UN’s demand, since Indonesia is one of the most-ready contingent in the peace mission.Maltha said there were 381 personnel and 40 of them were Female Police. They join the Formed Police Unit which is sent to Sudan for United Nations African Mission in Darfur (UNAMID); and to Central Africa for Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA). While the rest become Police Advisor to South Sudan, Haiti, and Congo.Members of Formed Police Unit and Police Advisor Indonesia will be on duty for one year. Their special mission is securing UN’s vital objects. They also must carry out Police Advisor’s duties such as protecting refugees and securing humanitarian aid distribution process.Joining UN Peacekeeping Force is an example of Indonesia’s commitment in maintaining world order which is based on independence, eternal peace, and social justice. All these are written in the Preamble of Indonesian 1945 Constitution. Indonesia’s involvement in UN peace mission has been ongoing since 1957.The deployment is also part of Indonesia’s efforts in fulfilling the promise to contribute to peace creation in conflicted countries. Specially, VP Jusuf Kalla in a public debate session at 73^rd UN General Assembly Session in New York, on September said that Indonesia will deploy 4,000 peacekeepers until 2019 by increasing women’s proportion.Certainly, there is a special reason for Indonesia in having more women in peacekeeping force. Actually, it is not only because currently the number of women are only 3% of the total personnel or just to fulfill the UN Security Council Resolution no. 1325 / 2000 which prioritizes women’s role in peace negotiation and post-conflict reconstruction. But, they also have to protect the women and young girls from sexual violence during armed conflict.The role of female peacekeeping forces is significant, especially in post-conflict reconstruction mission. Women are more easily accepted and trusted in helping other women and children. Indonesian women peacekeepers can also be an example of how gender equality is implemented in Indonesia, a country with most Muslim population.