Rechtin Hani Ritonga, Medan – An alliance of organisations in North Sumatra (Sumut) commemorated International Women's Day (IWD) in front of the North Sumatra Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) building on Jalan Imam Bonjol in the city of Medan on Wednesday March 8.
The alliance is made up of the Sumut National Network for Domestic Workers Advocacy (Jala PRT), the Sumut Domestic Workers Trade Union (SPRT), Women Today (PHI), the Sumut Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi), the Srikandi Lestari Foundation from Pangkalan Susu regency and various other organisations.
Action coordinator Lusty said that the nationally, organisations commemoration IWD 2023 are taking up the theme of "Enact the Draft Law on the Protection of Domestic Workers" (RUU PPRT).
"Today we are commemorating International Women's Day, but indeed this is specific to the North Sumatra region. But, there is one big theme that we are taking up nationally from the Sumut Jala PRT and SPRT, namely we want the immediate ratification of the Draft Law on the Protection of Domestic Workers, that's our goal", said Lusty.
Aside from asking for the ratification of the RUU PPRT, Lusty said that they are also articulating the still many cases of violence and the objectification of women.
"We also deplore that there is still a great deal of objectification of women, both women who work in the public arena as well as the domestic sphere", she said.
Lusty said that women's organisations are asking the House of Representatives (DPR) to immediately enact the RUU PPRT into law.
"We hope that the RUU PPRT will be enacted, if not we will continue to speak out, the same as with the draft law that came to be called the TPKS [Law on Sexual Violence Crimes], which in the end was also ratified. Now, that is because the fight will definitely not stop, will continue. So we are holding Thursday actions, Wednesday actions, and for the enactment of the RUU PPRT we will also continue to speak out", she concluded. (cr14/tribun-medan.com)
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Peringati Hari Perempuan Sedunia, Organisasi Gabungan di Sumut Desak RUU PPRT Disahkan".]
