The fight against gender inequality on digital platforms – known as digital gender activism – is a contentious issue in Indonesia
Human Rights
It was a weekday morning in Kojem, an impoverished neighbourhood in the northern part of Jakarta, and children as young as seven were coming home from a day of fishing on the rough Java Sea instead of going to school.
An Indonesian journalist started a campaign to provide mobile phones for underprivileged students, many of whom were still not allowed to do face-to-face learning because of covid, when the new school year started in July.
Changes to the laws around the minimum age for marriage are a step in the right direction, but concerns continue that not enough to stamp out systemic issues which have become apparent during the coronavirus pandemic.
Pandemic and school closures have led to more teen pregnancies and requests for underage marriage dispensations.
Practicing good hygiene is important in preventing the spread of COVID-19, but this can be very challenging when access to water and sanitation is poor. The traditional caregiving and cleaning roles, which usually fall to women and girls, leave them particularly vulnerable to the impact of COVID-19.
New Greenpeace report slams Indonesia government for allowing the pulpwood and palm oil sector to act with impunity despite bearing “considerable responsibility” for a fire crisis which causes environmental and health damage.
Home schooling during the COVID-19 pandemic is amplifying Indonesia’s existing education inequalities for families that lack the basic equipment needed.
