VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

European Union Ambassador to Indonesia, Vincent Guerend stated that what has happened in Syria should not be repeated. Thus, the EU supports Syria through humanitarian assistance and political negotiation with Syrian regime. During the European screen opening on Institute Francais D’Indonesie in Jakarta more recently (April 19th 2018), VincentGuerend said that European Union believes that Syrian regime must be fully responsible for this situation.

“What we European believe in Syria is that there has been seven years of horrible bloodshed in this country because of the civil war. We believe that Syrian regime has very strong responsibility in this situation. And we believe that has been some proof that this regime has repeatedly use chemical weapon against its own people and that is unacceptable and its terrible crime. And that is why the EU has supported the move to show this regime that chemical weapon cannot be use should not be use and that’s why in our view legitimate to destroy the chemical arsenal of Syria. At the same time the EU is one of the biggest providers of humanitarian support for the Syrian people both in Syria and the one who had fled to neighboring countries Syria, Lebanon and Jordan in particular we provide great vast amount of aid. And we as much as possible also support the talks between the various Syrian parties in Geneva to find political solution because obviously there’s a must solution that cannot be military solution to a civil war,”VincentGuerend said.

VincentGuerend added that about five days ago, joint military operation among UK, France and United States has been deployed to destroy the chemical weapon arsenal in Syria. He also pointed out that there are no civilian victims on the military operation. (VOI/NK/RHM)

Deputy of Social Sciences and Humanities at Indonesian Institute of Sciences -LIPI, Tri Nuke Pudjiastuti does hope that Kartini Day which is commemorated every 21st of April becomes an encouragement for Indonesian women. She perceives that Indonesian women with various capabilities can become the agent of change of Indonesian nation.

“The philosophy of Kartini's role is basically the one in which the women exist with their condition. What does it mean? If women exist by their own power, they have equality. This means that nowadays, women must have equal rights and obligations in all sectors of life. They can become not only lecturers, teachers or academicians, managers, but also politicians in the political arena so that they have equal rights.” said Tri Nuke Pudjiastuti to RRI World Service -Voice of Indonesia on the sidelines of the Public Discussion on Kartini Day in Jakarta on Friday (20/4).

Tri Nuke Pudjiastuti further stated that in the present era with full complexity, Indonesian women should be able to show courage in all sectors and show their major role in contributing to build Indonesia. She also remarked that Indonesian women must also be able to actualize themselves with positive and useful things. (VOI/AF/RHM)

Indonesia has encouraged an increasing role of women in the United Nations (UN) peacekeeping forces. The role of women in the peacekeeping forces is considered very important to mainly reduce the adverse impacts on women in conflict areas.

“Basically, in conflict area, women are the most vulnerable object. So, by having female peacekeepers, hopefully we can mitigate, and reduce the risk for women, such as sexual harassment. Maybe, we can also learn from other countries, not only among MIKTA. It is interesting to know that Sweden sent 40 percent of its female peacekeepers. Meanwhile, Indonesia has 2.700 women peacekeepers,” said Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, A.M Fachir in the opening speech of MIKTA Panel Discussion on Women and Peacekeeping in Jakarta more recently (April 19, 2018).

A. M Fachir further said that now, Indonesia is a country ranked in the top ten contributors to the UN peacekeeping forces, with 2,700 personnel scattering in conflict areas. Since 1957, Indonesia has contributed through the dispatch of approximately 40,000 personnel to maintain peace in some countries in the world. In the future, Indonesia will keep improving its contribution by sending one military battalion and hundreds of police personnel; 40 of whom are women. (VOI/Rezha/RHM)

The protection issue of migrant workers in Southeast Asia is one of the issues to be highlighted by Indonesia in the 32nd ASEAN Summit to take place in Singapore on 27-28 of April. At the meeting of the plenary sessions and the retreat, Indonesia to be represented by President Joko Widodo and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Retno Marsudi will discuss again the strengthening of cooperation of Indonesian migrant worker protection among ten ASEAN member countries.

“Of course, other things that will be encouraged and concerned by us are about the strengthening of cooperation of migrant workers protection through the implementation of ASEAN Consensus on the Protection and Promotion on the Rights of Migrant Workers. As we know, the consensus has been signed by the ASEAN head of state in November 2017 in the Philippines.” said Chandra W.Yudha,Director of ASEAN Political andSecurity Cooperation of theIndonesia Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a press conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jakarta on Friday (April 20^th).

Furthermore, Chandra explained that the 32nd ASEAN Summit is an appropriate forum to discuss various regional issues in Southeast Asia and how to move forward, including the protection issue of migrant workers. So far, the protection of migrant workers in Southeast Asia has been mutually agreed upon by the ten ASEAN member countries through the ASEAN Consensus on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers. The agreements administer a number of rights owned by every migrant worker, ranging from the rights to hold a passport, rights to treatment and fair income in the workplace, the rights to communicate, the rights to participate in associations or unions in the recipient country, and the rights to file a case in case of breach of employment contract. In addition, the ASEAN Consensus also regulates the rights of families of migrant workers, including the rights to visit migrant workers working in one of the ASEAN countries. (VOI/Rezha/RHM)