UIN Jakarta's Center for Gender and Child Studies Visits the General Elections Commission to Strengthen Women's Protection

Jakarta, UIN Online News — The Center for Gender and Child Studies (PSGA) of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta paid an official visit to the General Elections Commission of the Republic of Indonesia (KPU RI) on Thursday (12 March 2026). The visit was aimed at strengthening the commitment to protecting women's rights throughout Indonesia's electoral processes and public policies.

The PSGA delegation was led by Dr. Hj. Wiwi Siti Syajaroh, Chair of PSGA UIN Jakarta, who met with KPU RI Chair Muhammad Afifuddin. The meeting was attended by representatives from both institutions and served as a platform to discuss strategies for promoting gender-responsive electoral governance.

During the meeting, Dr. Wiwi emphasized the importance of ensuring that women's protection remains an integral part of electoral policies and practices. She stressed that women's participation in democracy should be supported by policies that guarantee safety, equality, and protection from discrimination and violence.

"Women's protection must become a key consideration in Indonesia's electoral policies, whether for women as voters, election officials, or electoral candidates," she stated.

She further noted that Islamic higher education institutions such as UIN Jakarta, through research centers like PSGA, have a strategic role in providing academic research and policy recommendations to strengthen gender perspectives within Indonesia's democratic system.

Responding to the proposal, KPU RI Chair Muhammad Afifuddin expressed his appreciation for PSGA UIN Jakarta's initiative and its concern for advancing women's protection in electoral governance. He reaffirmed the commission's commitment to promoting inclusive participation and gender-sensitive policies.

"The KPU welcomes input from academics, including PSGA UIN Jakarta. We remain committed to strengthening the protection of women and ensuring broader, more inclusive participation throughout the democratic process," he said.

Dr. Wiwi concluded by expressing hope that the visit would serve as the foundation for a broader partnership between PSGA UIN Jakarta and KPU RI in developing gender-responsive electoral policies and fostering safer, more meaningful participation for women in Indonesia's democracy.