PEREMPUAN PAPUA DAN PELUANG POLITIK DI ERA OTSUS PAPUA

Abstract

This paper discusses the condition and the dynamics of Papuan women’spolitical participationin the reformation and democratization era. Traditionally, women are positioned as subordinate of men.This paperargues that there are increasing opportunities for women’s participation in the decision making process. Based on Papuan historical experiences, the traditionalsocial construction has been enriched by education and modern bureaucracy introduced by the churches, the Dutch colonial government and the Indonesian government. In some cases, the rise of Papuan women’s political participation is facilitated by family. Since the late 1980s civil society movement, the establishment of a number of NGOs has grown significantly and provided more opportunities for women activists. Women empowerment by this group is not only driven by individual motivation but also supportedby family condition and the new political context. Significant progress of position and roles as well as the new political space for women has been translatedinto the new creation of ‘women seat’ within the structure of Papuan People Assembly (MRP). This is seen as a milestone in the history of women movement in Papua. Considering the strategic role and position of women specifically in MRP and in Papuan political dynamic, women leaders in Papuaare expected to contribute more toward conflict resolution.