JAKARTA (IndoTelko) - Reaffirming its commitment to gender equality and women"s empowerment, Huawei participated in an event initiated by the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection entitled Kartini Digital - Indonesian Women Cultivating in the Digital World. In addition to Huawei, the program received support from the National Cyber and Encryption Agency (BSSN) and the Indonesian Women in Cybersecurity (IWCS) alliance.
Coinciding with the second anniversary of Indonesia Women in Cybersecurity and realizing the Huawei Women in Tech program - #ToGetHerToBuildABetterFuture 2023, Kartini Digital aims to continue the fight for women"s rights in the digital era. It specifically focuses on increasing women"s participation in building a more inclusive, impactful, and safe digital ecosystem in Indonesia, benefitting society as a whole.
Several indicators show that Indonesia is moving towards gender equality. However, there are still areas that can be improved, such as empowering women through greater opportunities for them to thrive in leadership positions and decision-making. Women are also encouraged to delve into and pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.
Beyond the economic aspect, the contribution of Kartini Digital in the social sphere is reflected in the form of the Declaration of Women"s Ethics in the Digital World. It aims to encourage Indonesian women"s participation in creating a healthy, positive, and ethically guided cyberspace, influenced by the values of courtesy and respect inherent in Indonesian culture.
I Gusti Ayu Bintang Darmawati, S.E., M.Si., Minister of Women Empowerment’s and Child Protection of the Republic of Indonesia, expressed her hope that Kartini Digital can address challenges while maximizing the opportunities presented. Equipped with digital skills training, women are expected to enhance their competencies and
competitiveness to make greater contributions to the nation through their diverse
achievements.
"Digital literacy is no longer a choice but a necessity. Through the Kartini Digital program, we hope to create new Kartini figures who continue to champion the spirit of gender equality and women"s empowerment from generation to generation, including in the digital era with its unique challenges and opportunities. The Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection highly appreciates Huawei"s support for Kartini Digital, and we encourage all stakeholders, including industry players and ICT solution providers, as exemplified by Huawei, to participate in nurturing capable and competent modern women," she stated.
Lieutenant General of the Indonesian Armed Forces (Ret.) Hinsa Siburian, Head of the National Cyber and Crypto Agency (BSSN), added that women are an important demographic that can significantly contribute to the development of Indonesia"s cyber resilience and security. Beyond their individual and household roles, women have the potential to become skilled professionals in the field of cybersecurity. The key lies in providing equal education and opportunities.
"BSSN expresses its appreciation to Huawei for its long-standing partnership with us, other government institutions, and all stakeholders through the quad-helix synergy to democratize digital education for the entire Indonesian society, particularly through its cybersecurity curriculum and best practices. We hope Kartini Digital can optimize the potential of Indonesian women in the field of cybersecurity," he said.
Lenny N. Rosalin, Deputy Minister for Gender Equality at the Ministry of Women"s Empowerment and Child Protection of the Republic of Indonesia, stated in her presentation that Indonesia has made significant efforts to achieve gender equality. Various policies, programs, and development activities have been implemented at the national and local levels. The figures for the Gender Development Index and Gender Empowerment Index are steadily improving each year, while the Gender Inequality Index and Global Gender Gap Index have been decreasing annually. However, gender gaps can still be found; for instance, women are lagging behind men in various areas of development, including in terms of digital
technologies.
"Therefore, Kartini Digital is expected to provide breakthroughs for Indonesian women to become more empowered in the digital world. Indonesian women are expected to become champions and tackle the challenges they face, such as digital security, digital literacy, digital skills, digital business transformation, and, importantly, to strengthen and enhance women"s leadership, especially in STEM fields. Encouraging collaboration and synergy among all stakeholders for the advancement of women in the digital world and amidst digitalization, as well as sharing best practices and networking for success in today’s context, should continue. We are committed to supporting Indonesian women in enhancing their competencies and well-being through technology in a positive, respectful, and safe manner," explained Lenny.
For over 23 years in Indonesia, Huawei has demonstrated its commitment to social issues and development, including addressing the country"s need for at least 9 million digital talents by 2030. Huawei"s support for Kartini Digital represents the company"s dual contribution to women"s empowerment and meeting the demand for digital talents.
"Huawei is a company founded on inclusive values, including achieving gender equality through women"s empowerment. The Kartini Digital program initiated by the Ministry of Women"s Empowerment and Child Protection aligns with our corporate values and deserves support to build a fair and prosperous digital future for Indonesia. Through Huawei"s support for Kartini Digital, we are also moving one step closer to our target of training 100,000 Indonesian digital talents," concluded Guo Hailong, CEO of Huawei Indonesia.
Huawei announced its commitment in 2020 and has achieved over 80% of its target thus far. The company"s women"s empowerment commitment, dubbed ToGetHer, is based on three pillars: Tech for Her (developing technology for women"s benefit), Tech with Her (accompanying women in learning digital skills), and Tech by Her (providing opportunities for women to become leaders in the company). (mas)