Since becoming a democracy in 1998, Indonesia has made considerable advancements toward gender parity. In 2001, Megwati Sukarnoputri became the country’s first female president and during her time in office, significant human rights provisions were made to the country’s constitution. Indonesia’s current administration has the highest number of female cabinet members in the country’s history, and president, Joko Widodo, has made gender equality a central component of his presidency. He is currently a global ambassador for the HeForShe campaign, the United Nations Global Solidarity Movement for Gender Equality, and has stated that “Women are the key to sustainable peace, from family, to country, to the world.” However, there is still progress to be made. Indonesia has high rates of child marriage as well as street harassment, trafficking, and domestic violence. The National Commission on Violence against Women in Indonesia and other feminist groups have been instrumental in advocating for protective policies, including the 2004 Law on Domestic Violence. They are continuing their fight toward positive social change and are currently campaigning for the ratification of the sexual violence bill.
Women in Indonesia have equal opportunity and access to sport and have played a critical role in the country’s sporting tradition. In the 1988 Olympic Games, Lilies Handayani, Nurfitriyana Seiman-Lantang, and Kusuma Wardhani, brought home the country’s first-ever Olympic medal when they won silver in the recurve archery team event. Badminton is Indonesia’s national sport, and female athletes have proven a dominant force since badminton first became an Olympic event in 1992. Susi Susanti won the country’s first Olympic gold medal in 1992 in the women’s singles event and Greysia Polii and Apriyani Rahayu won Indonesia’s first-ever women’s doubles badminton gold at the 2020 Olympic Games.
Meet and support global leaders creating change in Indonesia:
Hanna Fauzie
Masany Gultom
How does Indonesia compare to other countries?
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Women in Leadership
PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN IN PARLIAMENT AS OF 2020
17%
PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN IN MINISTRY POSITIONS AS OF 2020
24%
Has a Woman Ever Been Head of State or Head of Government?
Megawati Sukarnoputri, 2001 - 2004
HAS A WOMAN EVER BEEN SPORTS MINISTER?
Unknown
Title IX Timeline
1945
Indonesia gained independence from the Dutch colonial rule on August 17.
1955
Women gained the right to vote (full suffrage).
1956
Martha Gultom and Ria Tobing became the first two women to represent Indonesia in the Olympics.
1980
Indonesia signed the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).
1984
Ninik Umardiyani became the first woman to represent Indonesia in the Paralympics and win a Paralympic medal (bronze- lawn bowls). Indonesia ratified CEDAW.
1988
The women’s Olympic Archery Team won the silver team medal to become the first women from Indonesia to win Olympic medals.
2000
Indonesia signed the Optional Protocol to CEDAW.
2001
Megawati Sukarnoputri became the first female President of Indonesia.
2014
Indonesia signed the UN Security Council Resolution 1325, affirming that peace and security efforts are more sustainable when women are equal partners in the prevention of violent conflict, the delivery of relief and recovery efforts and in the forging of lasting peace.
Women in the olympics
participation through the years
-
0
-
2
-
2
-
5
-
9
-
32
-
45
-
20
-
12
Women in the Paralympics
participation through the years
-
0
-
0
-
4
-
0
-
2
-
4
-
9
Elite Sports Participation
First Year Women Participated In The Olympics
1956
Year Women’s Participation In Olympics Was Equal To Men’s
1972
First Time A Woman Won An Olympic Medal
Lilies Handayani, Nurfitriyana Saiman, Kusuma Wardhani (Women' Archery Team): 1988, Archery (Silver)
First Year Women Participated In The Paralympics
1984
Year Women’s Participation In Paralympics Was Equal To Men’s
As of 2020, women's participation was still less than men's.
First Time A Woman Won A Paralympic Medal
Ninik Umardiyani: 1984, Lawn Bowl (Bronze)
FIFA
Fédération Internationale de Football Association
National Women’s Team?
Yes
First Year Of Play
1977
Pay Gap Comparison
Pay Unknown
Gender Initiatives
Indonesia created the country’s first women’s division league, Liga 1 Putri, in 2019.
FIFA is committed to the growth and development of women’s football around the globe.
For More Information
Liga 1 Putri Press Release
FIFA: Women's Development Program
FIBA
Fédération Internationale de Basketball
National Women’s Team?
Yes
First Year Of Play
1970
Pay Gap Comparison
Pay Unknown
Gender Initiatives
Increasing the participation of women in basketball at all levels was named as one of FIBA’s eight strategic objectives (2019- 2027) and one of FIBA’s three strategic priorities (2019-2023).
For More Information
LOCAL
Sports
Initiatives
Community Organizations That Have Signed The Brighton + Helsinki Declaration
Indonesian Association Of Physical Education and Sports for Girls and Women
