Indonesia’s state budget (APBN) has supported gender-based budgeting through the Gender Responsive Budgeting Program since 2000, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati stated.
“It aims to plan, budget, monitor, and track the utilization of state spending in supporting gender equality,” Indrawati remarked at the Capital Market Women Empowerment Forum here on Wednesday.
The endeavor is made since the budget may be spent disproportionately for either men or women. In addition, budget utilization may discriminate against certain groups, she noted.
Hence, the minister stated that in planning, budgeting, monitoring, and tracking the budget, the gender dimension must also be taken into account to provide equal opportunities to all groups since social conditions, cultures, and norms often hindered women from advancing in the economic and social sectors.
Furthermore, the minister spoke of a new innovation in the APBN issued in early 2021, specifically the provision of Non-Physical Special Allocation Funds (DAK) for the protection of women and children.
“I expect that it will strengthen the local governments’ attempts, so they can prevent any sexual assaults involving Indonesian girls that are recently occurring. However, if the incidents still occur, we can help the victims by using the allocated funds,” she stated.
Indrawati highlighted the ministry’s commitment to continuing to support the empowerment of women and girls as well as ensuring their protection through appropriate utilization of the state budget.
The support will not only entail provision of equal opportunities in the budgeting sector but also in the health sector, such as by providing immunizations and proper nutrition, as well as in the education sector.
“Thus, they can become productive and healthy women, who not only make themselves but also their families and our nation proud,” Indrawati added.
The Capital Market Women Empowerment Forum was held by the Indonesia Stock Exchange themed “Advancing Gender Equality for Sustainable Finance in Indonesia Capital Market” to coincide with this year’s National Mother’s Day commemorated every December 22.
Source: Antara News