IO – The Women Empowerment and Child Protection (PPPA) Ministry undertakes numerous efforts of special protection for women and children in emergencies. This protection includes assuring all concerned that the specifc needs of women and children in vulnerable groups are met during the COVID-19 pandemic and post-natural disaster situations.
PPPA Minister Bintang Puspayoga explains that to handle the COVID-19 emergencies, the Ministry collaborates with the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB). This specifc assistance will complement the current social aid provided by the President or Social Affairs Ministry.
“Women and children in vulnerable groups who are undergoing an isolation period or who come from underprivileged families will receive
basic needs assistance from the PPPA Ministry. Most people generally
receive social assistance in the form of basic necessities and other basic
food needs. However, specifc needs for pregnant women, young children,
infants, teenage girls, adult women, and the elderly are often neglected
and considered secondary,” said Bintang, Sunday (24/10/2021).
Since the start of the pandemic, the PPPA Ministry has distributed 30,533 specifc needs packages that include vitamins, ready-to-eat food, masks, sanitary napkins, underwear, medicines and diapers for the elderly.
The special assistance is also provided to women and children who face diffculties earning a living because of the large-scale restrictions policy. This vulnerable group includes underprivileged women, female heads of households, women with toddlers and mothers with disabled children. In general, assistance is given to those living in impoverished areas and landflls, such as in Cinere and Bantar Gebang.
The PPPA Ministry also distributes specifc needs assistance in Bogor, Bekasi and Tangerang, to female heads of the household, along with women not registered in Social Welfare Integrated Data (DTKS), such as scavengers, laborers and seniors.
The Minister stated that providing specifc needs is crucial during a pandemic and in any emergencies to protect women and children. The two
groups are often faced with crises that make them vulnerable to neglect and
violence. Therefore, these steps are promoted as the Ministry of PPPA’s strategic program to provide extra protection for women and children.
“The specifc needs must be met, because women and children potentially face a double vulnerability if their specifc needs are neglected,” said Bintang.
She has also asked Offces of Women Empowerment and Child Protection throughout Indonesia to allocate budgets in their respective regions for specifc assistance to women and children from vulnerable groups. The Minister pointed out that 20 businesses have been invited to participate in this program. In this case, the Ministry collaborates with the Women Headed Family Empowerment Foundation (PEKKA), Kalyanamitra Foundation, Pasundan Women’s Resource Development Center (PPSW) Foundation and the women’s affairs offce in Jakarta. (eka)