huridocs-tech ICTs and women's rights in Indonesia

This message was originally posted on UNIFEM's End-Violence listserv.

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Date: Mon, 07 Feb 2000 10:12:44 -0800
From: Marsanti Setyowati <msetyowati@hotmail.com>

Dear Members,

I would like to tell you about the situation for women's rights in
Indonesia, and some of the ways that information/communications
technologies (ICTs) are being used to support women's rights in
Indonesia. At this time, Indonesia has a political situation that
could change in dramatic ways. This situation gives open space for
Indonesian NGO's and organisations to put more pressure on bringing
about a women's violence agenda. Indonesia had ratified International
CEDAW instruments, but no political will from the state could erase
violence on women. We still have a long way to get to the place where
Indonesian women can have their equality in rights and justice. Many
organisations and NGOs that are concerned about women's developments
have lots of people who work very hard (and sometimes have to pay with
their life) on women empowerment program. Many of them are using
Internet networking for their communication system.

Some organisations are really concerned about women's issues, and make
mailing list discussions for sharing information and talking about
what happens in Indonesia. The organisation I work with, Women's
Solidarity, is using e-group discussions to communicate with their
members who live in different places and cities.  Some of the members
live in suburb areas and they don't have any trouble to get online,
but some of them live in the country and they don't have access to get
online. But then it turned to be very interesting to see that the
people who don't have online access can still get up-to-date
information or send information. In this network, people that can get
online will download the information into a floppy disk and circulate
the information to other members who don't have access to the online
network. They use the network not just for regular discussions and
sharing internal discussion, but they also use it for campaigns on
violence against women, advocacy on Indonesian women's migrant workers
cases, and give solidarity support for peoples in conflict area such
as: Aceh, Ambon, Timor and Irian. Indonesia also has other women's
networking that have regular discussions about women's issues which
called 'perempuan'. As far as I know, everybody from everywhere can
join and give their opinion. Lots of information has been communicated
in this network.

I would like to say that using ICTs for communications networking is
still limited to some areas and some peoples and also some
organisations in Indonesia. But, sometimes, small is beautiful after
all. It's true that some organisations and activists have to build
online networks and offline networks at the same time, but I believe
that these will become even more effective than they have been. In the
conflict areas such as Aceh and Maluku, network information is like a
big giant hand that connects them with peoples outside and also allows
people from outside to give their heart or words for them. I believe
that information technology can be use as a medium for communicating
effectively, as long as it will always be based on humanity,
solidarity and equality.

In solidarity,

Shanti




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