Report on – 33rd IC Resolution 5: Women and leadership in the humanitarian action of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (33IC/19/R5) – Indonesian Red Cross Society

Has your State/National Society/Institution incorporated the commitments contained in this resolution into the relevant strategic or operational plans?

The commitments are incorporated into:
Operational plan

At the Local level

Explanation:

Efforts have been ongoing to ensure women have leadership roles within the humanitarian sector, including in Indonesia. Since 2011, Indonesian laws—Law No. 2 of 2008 and Law No. 7 of 2017—mandate that 30% of the parliament be represented by women. As of 2019, women held 20.9% of parliamentary seats.

In the Indonesian Red Cross Society (PMI-Palang Merah Indonesia), four out of twenty board members are women, representing 20%. This is an increase from the previous two women. Additionally, the deputy head of office is a woman, and at the middle management level, four out of eleven posts, or 36%, are held by women.

Has your State/National Society/Institution been working with other partners to implement the commitments contained in this resolution?

Partner with:
National Red Cross or Red Crescent Society in your country

Examples of cooperation:

The Indonesian Red Cross Society (PMI-Palang Merah Indonesia) is dedicated to fostering an inclusive environment that promotes the active participation of women in decision-making roles. This commitment involves a multifaceted approach to capacity building across all organizational levels.

Firstly, PMI prioritizes training and development programs aimed at equipping women with the necessary skills and knowledge to assume leadership positions. This includes workshops, seminars, and mentorship initiatives that focus on enhancing both technical and soft skills, ensuring that women are well-prepared for the responsibilities they undertake.

Moreover, PMI is working to create policies and frameworks that support gender equality within the organization. This involves setting measurable targets for female representation in leadership roles and monitoring progress to ensure accountability. By institutionalizing these practices, PMI aims to create a culture that values and promotes gender diversity.

In addition to these internal efforts, PMI collaborates with external partners and stakeholders to advocate for women’s leadership in the broader humanitarian sector. This includes participating in regional and international forums, sharing best practices, and supporting initiatives that aim to elevate women’s roles in humanitarian decision-making processes.

As these efforts continue, PMI expects to see a gradual but steady increase in the number of women in leadership positions. This ongoing commitment to gender inclusion and competency enhancement is anticipated to become a standard way of working within the organization, ultimately contributing to more effective and equitable humanitarian outcomes.

In summary, the Indonesian Red Cross Society’s strategy involves comprehensive training and development, policy implementation, and external advocacy to ensure that women’s inclusion in decision-making processes is not only achieved but sustained and improved over time.

Have you encountered any challenges in implementing the commitments contained in this resolution?

With challenges on:
Human resources
Competing priorities
Lack of specific knowledge/expertise

Details about challenges:

Addressing the lack of formal written regulations for gender equality in leadership roles can be challenging, but it also provides an opportunity to create a proactive and inclusive culture within the organization. Up to now, it is unwritten regulation within the organization for ensuring the women to be given chances as leaders.

In addition to that, the culture within the patriarchal society can be one among many reasons for this situation. As part of PGI approach in ensuring that women have the same rights in everything, including to be leaders. Despite the PGI approach is familiarized, it is not enough, it is important to continue the efforts in building the capacity of PGI at all levels of organization throughout the country.

Have the commitments contained in this resolution had an impact on the work and direction of your State/National Society/Institution?

Type of Impact:
Programming and operations have become more effective and efficient

Details about the impact:

By having more women as leaders, the organization can work more effectively, more trust from the society will increase. With the number of women board members at the Headquarters that increasing, the role of the Indonesian Red Cross as the auxiliary to the Government is accordingly. Yet, there are rooms for improvement needs more attention. Having written regulation on this context can be one means among many ways in achieving more women as leaders. Also, continue the efforts in increasing the capacity of PGI within the organization is necessary. Since PGI is not necessarily related to the services delivery but it must be embedded first within the organization.

Have the commitments contained in this resolution had an impact on the communities that your State/National Society/Institution serves?

Description of the impact:

While delivering the humanitarian services, the PMI is trying to ensure that the services are delivered with the purpose that the beneficiaries are in dignity. By having more women in the decision-making process, it is believed that the humanitarian services will be more dignified based on the needs.

In the field, humanitarian services are designed and implemented by involving as many as the representatives from the community. These cover the men, women, children, women as the head of families, elderlies, people with disabilities, unaccompanied minors, etc. By not only acknowledging and involving the women in the design process and implementing, but it also helps the services to be more efficient and effective.