How does the public welcome the new Commissioners of Komnas Perempuan for the 2010-2014 terms? What are their expectations towards the new officials, soon to begin working in January 2010? These are the excerpts from the interviews by Nunung Qomariyah and Diah Irawaty, editors from Komnas Perempuan.

Salmah (Yayasan Benua/Bina Profesi Wira Usaha), from Makasar

I hope the new Commissioners will be more outspoken, for hitherto they were underperformance. Komnas Perempuan is nevertheless a national State institution, people should be aware of its existence and its programs. In my opinion, Komnas Perempuan lacks popularity; these next terms should see at least one person who is media-friendly to boost up its publicity. I also wish that the programs would be more people-oriented. The priority should be placed on the issues of women’s poverty.

Hirim (HRWG/Human Rights Working Group)

Komnas Perempuan has done a great job in the past; the new Commissioners should be able to build on that, with better results of course. One of the leftovers from the last terms is the ratification of the Migrant Convention. I wish that the new Commissioners would be able to build a better partnership and cooperation with other institutions/organizations.

Maryani (Bapeda East Lombok)

Komnas Perempuan has done a lot in the past, but its performance can still be improved. Particularly regarding their attention to the victims especially those who live in the provinces. Komnas Perempuan should build upon the success of the past and improve on the issues of violence against women and children, as well as the issues of economic empowerment. Komnas Perempuan needs to disseminate its ideas in the grass root level. I also wish that Komnas Perempuan would share its program with us in the provinces.

Sutirah (The Department of Justice and Human Rights)

I expect that under the new leadership Komnas Perempuan would be better protecting the rights of the woman and child victims of violence. I think that Komnas Perempuan needs to further empower the law enforcers and the government’s agencies, to build their awareness. I hope that Komnas Perempuan steps-up in its efforts to eliminate the violence against women in Indonesia, including the violence against domestic workers both abroad and within the country.

Asep R.M (Bapeda Indramayu)

Our emotion and behavior is affected by our economic status, customs and education. Thus these three factors should be measured when deliberating for programs to address the gender equality and violence against women. Komnas Perempuan should be more actively disseminate its programs against VOW and domestic violence at the grass root level. Komnas Perempuan should be more actively invite activists from the grass root level to participate in its programs. Even the government officials in the provinces should participate in the programs. It is a common knowledge that there’s not enough funding in the provinces to conduct such programs optimally. I think Komnas Perempuan should urge the local government to grant bigger allocation for women’s issues in their budget. I hope that the programs of Komnas Perempuan will bring more impact to the grass root level. The area to improve is the two way communication and the flow of information from national to local, and vice versa.

Retno (The Coordinator for the Indonesian Migrant Workers—ATKI), Jakarta

To the new Commissioners, I place my hope that they would step up in their performance. The migrant workers’ problems are getting more complicated. Komnas Perempuan should be more outspoken. I know that Komnas Perempuan is restricted to its mandates, but still creativity would help us solving the migrant workers’ problems.

Komnas Perempuan hitherto limits itself to monitoring efforts. I think that it should be more outspoken in the front of the government officials, to urge them taking a more definite stance in their defense of women and migrant workers.

I can offer no comment on the current Commissioners, for I haven’t known them personally. But I do hope that Komnas Perempuan would continually improve its performance.

Hartoyo (LGBT activist), Jakarta

I can see that Komnas Perempuan already has a strategic plan for 2010-2014, and the five priorities in it. The commissioners should be able to position themselves as “statesmen,” a position which entails that they should play a greater role in the administration of the country, or forge a better cooperation with the government.

I know these commissioners are people used to the grass root works, a fact that should be beneficial to them in their cooperation with the government.

Komnas Perempuan should also be more attentive to the vulnerable groups, those with multiple discriminations. Komnas Perempuan should systematically tackle the problem.

Some commissioners, however, should redefine their outlook on women. The fact is, many women refuse to be called women for they have another sexual identity. Definitions should be more contextual, I think. Fortunately the commissioners are field people, I believe such problems are easy to address.

I do hope that Komnas Perempuan would improve its capacity to utilize the state budget. Granted, the mechanism is complicated but it will be the duty of Komnas Perempuan to change the system and optimize the funding from the state budget. This would make Komnas Perempuan more independent to donor and, instead of using the fund from the donors for itself; Komnas Perempuan may act as a liaison to connect the donors to the grass root level organizations, which in sore need of funding.

To speak frankly, I’m rather disappointed with the election process of the current commissioners. That system should be reformed, for Komnas Perempuan is a public institution; and the inside working should be accountable and transparent to the public.

Desi (teacher), Semarang

I don’t know much about Komnas Perempuan. I do, however, hope that the Indonesian women can enjoy a peaceful, gratifying and prosperous life; without discrimination based on gender. I hope Komnas Perempuan can make the Indonesian women achieve that kind of life.

Indy Damayanti (KOMNAS HAM) Jakarta

Komnas Perempuan should work harder to disseminate its own achievements, programs, and even its own existence, especially the existence of complaint mechanism. For there are still many women who don’t know where to file complaints when they need to.

I am also of the opinion that the current Minister of Women Empowerment and Protection of Children is very cooperative. Komnas Perempuan should try and forge more cooperative endeavors with the Ministry.

Hesti (Nurse), Semarang

Komnas Perempuan should work more in the countryside. The village women do not know where to go to when they become victims of violence. And they are very poor. Komnas Perempuan should also make more cooperative efforts with the local organizations and the Women’s Empowerment Offices in the municipal and provincial level. I hope that would help the Indonesian women get a better life, and not only for the women who live near the center of power.