IRI Trains Women Candidates for 2004 Elections

February 25, 2003

Indonesia faces important national elections in 2004 marking only the second consecutive democratic election in the country's history. Although the highest election contest will feature a woman, incumbent President Megawati Sukarnoputri, women political activists face numerous obstacles further down the ballot.

Between February 13 and 16, approximately 300 women from seven political parties received training in East Java from Tom Garrett, IRI resident program director for Indonesia and local staff members Delima Saragih, Desi Indrimayutri and Dicky Dooradi. Topics included successful candidate characteristics, developing messages for women voters and influencing party platforms during election campaigns. In addition, cultural and structural obstacles to women's participation in politics were compared with the experience of women candidates in the United States and other countries.

The speaker of the upper chamber of parliament attended one session reiterating his support for increasing the number of women in politics. The speaker also asked IRI to increase its programs in support of Indonesian democracy. His wife spoke in another session, detailing the demands placed on a political spouse. After the trainings, the participants expressed their gratitude to the International Republican Institute for providing them the first such opportunity to develop as women candidates.

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