Working and Organizing as Women’s Groups: Reflection on the Struggle of Pro-Women Policy Advocacy in Indonesia, 1998 - 2017

Abstract

The struggle of Indonesian women’s movement to advocate for pro-women legislations during 1998 – 2017 has its significant achievements and lessons to learn. The paper reports on how women’s groups organized themselves for policy advocacy works under the Jaringan Kerja Prolegnas Pro Perempuan (The Network for Pro-Women National Legislation Programme, hereinafter referred as JKP3) in the Reformation Era. The research methods employed are a literature review, participative observation in various activities conducted by the network, as well as the analysis of field notes and documents. It can be concluded that the network is strong with guiding principles and perspectives, which is feminist and for gender equality, and tries its best to ensure that all policies are pro-women and pro-gender equality. The network faces significant obstacles and challenges from external parties, namely from the government, the legislators in the parliament, and from the wide public. The obstacles and challenges are the lack of concern and understanding of gender equality, rejection of pro-women perspectives with the legitimation of religious teachings to limit women’s rights or roles, the lack of bureaucratic concern and the very political attitude of legislators. Meanwhile, the network also faces various and significant challenges related to the working dynamics within the network. While working on the same issue, there are institutional competitions, differences in perspectives as well as in working styles and strategy. They point to the findings of significant lessons-learned about approaches and strategies. The paper ends with discussion and recommendation for further advocacy work and research on pro-women policy advocacy.