Indonesia, Australia join hands for women's empowerment

The Indonesian and Australian governments have agreed to push for the empowerment of women and girls, who suffered health, economic, and humanitarian impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, via dialogues among women leaders.
Jakarta (VNA) - The Indonesian and Australiangovernments have agreed to push for the empowerment of women and girls, who sufferedhealth, economic, and humanitarian impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, viadialogues among women leaders.

As reported by the Indonesian news agency Antara, IndonesianForeign Minister Retno L. P. Marsudi and Australian Minister of Foreign Affairsand Minister for Women Marise Payne will hold a Southeast Asia Dialogue ofWomen Leaders on March 18.

In a written statement of Indonesian Ministry of ForeignAffairs, Marsudi remarked that the dialogue will contribute to the sustainablepromotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls inSoutheast Asia and Australia.

The virtual meeting will bring together over 30 SoutheastAsian and Australian women leaders and prominent women figures, with differentprofessional, cultural, and academic backgrounds.

It will highlight the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic onwomen and daughters and discuss cooperation proposals with policy makers in theregion. Its will complement and strengthen similar efforts made at otherregional and international forums, such as the UN, G20, and ASEAN.

Meanwhile, through its written statement, the AustralianEmbassy in Indonesia affirmed that both foreign ministers remain committed toprotecting the rights of women and girls./.
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