Edzan Raharjo, Yogyakarta – International Women’s Day in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta was commemorated by several different organisations with a long-march through the Jl. Malioboro shopping district.
Based on observations at the location on Wednesday March 8, the groups taking part in the action included, among others, the People’s Struggle Front (FPR) and the Yogyakarta Women’s Struggle Committee (KPP).
The hundreds of protesters began the action at the Abubakar Ali parking area north of Malioboro. They then marched to the Yogyakarta Regional House of Representatives (DPRD), where both groups gave speeches, then rallied at the zero kilometre point in front of the central post office.
A number of banners and posters were brought by the demonstrators with messages such as “Reject [child] marriage”, “Raise the legal age for women to marry: 16 years”, “Equal work” and “Stop human trafficking”.
“In reality, women’s rights as women are not enough, because women also have to be in politics, the economy and the current situation. And violence against women has risen significantly. The problem of forced marriages, early marriages are still quite high”, said women’s activist Tya Setiyani during the action in front of the Yogyakarta DPRD on Jl. Malioboro.
During the action the activists shouted demands such as guaranteeing the rights of and prosperity of women and children, access to free healthcare and an end to discrimination including reproductive and sexual rights, twelve months maternity leave and unconditional menstruation leave with full pay.
Other demands were also articulated such as protection for children and women in conflict areas, rejecting low wages and safety and healthcare guarantees for women workers, providing protection to migrant workers and the repeal of Law Number 39/2004 on the Placement and Protection of Overseas Migrant Workers (PPTKILN).
[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service. The original title of the report was “Hari Perempuan Internasional, Aktivis di Yogya Suarakan Tuntutan”.]
- International Women’s Day Indonesia – Archive of IWD reports from the Indonesian media
