Dwi Lindawati, Surabaya – the commemoration of International Women's Day (IWD) 2023 in East Java was marked by a mass convoy of 200 people and a demonstration at the Negara Grahadi building (governor's office) in the provincial capital of Surabaya on March 8.

"Yes that's correct (the commemoration of IWD). Today's action is in the context of commemorating International Women's Day", Surabaya Labour Party Executive Committee Chairperson Nuruddin Hidayat told Tugujatim.id on Wednesday afternoon.

The protesters, who were organised by the People's Movement (Gerak) alliance and the Labour Party, did not just originate from labour groups, but also from student groups, the Surabaya Legal Aid Foundation (LBH) and the Surabaya IWD organisation.

"The estimated number of protesters this afternoon is around 200 people", explained Hidayat.

The march began at around 11 am and followed a route from the Surabaya zoo through Jalan Diponegoro, then turning right and entering Jalan Raya Darmo, Basuki Rahmat, then a long march past the Tunjungan Plaza towards the Negara Grahadi building as the final point for the action.

The IWD protesters made at least six demands. Namely, realising gender equality, empowering women in a prosperous country, opposing the Government Regulation in Lieu of Law (Perppu) replacing the Omnibus Law on Job Creation, rejecting the Draft Omnibus Law on Healthcare, calling for the enactment of the Draft Law on the Protection of Domestic Workers (RUU PPRT) and rejecting the criminalisation of three farmers from the Pakel Village in East Timor and calling for their immediate release from all charges.

In addition to this they also demanded that the East Java state budget be allocated to the Social Security Management Agency (BPJS) as fund for healthcare for the poor in East Java.

"For gender equality, there are several points that are our focus. Namely, immediately enact regulations [supporting] the Law on Sexual Violence Crimes, enact the RUU PPRT, give priority to public services for women and the aged, provide the broadest possible opportunities for women to become leaders in national elections as well as regional elections, and act firmly against perpetrators of sexual harassement", explained Hidayat.

Hidayat also said that if these demands are not met by the government, they will hold another action on March 14. "If they are not met or not achieved, then on March 14, 2023 we will come back to hold another demonstration", he said.

[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Hari Perempuan Internasional, 200 Massa Serukan Enam Tuntutan di Gedung Grahadi Surabaya".]

Source: https://tugujatim.id/hari-perempuan-internasional-massa-demo-di-surabaya/