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Natasha Dematra, the world record holder for the youngest female
film director, launched the International Women Empowerment (IWE), a
movement that supports gender equality by echoing women's rights
such as menstruation, against child marriage and sexual harassment,
and other women's empowerment issues. Natasha, who is also an artist
and writer, said that film could be used creatively to echo this
issue. Her recent short film PLANET 50-50 about the issue of gender
equality, has won many international awards and managed to attract a
lot of people's attention.
�The discrimination and stigma that I find in this modern era are
what motivates me to make IWE. The young generations, no matter what
gender they are, need to understand this issue to achieve gender
equality,� said Natasha who has received more than 200 international
and national awards.
Russian Ambassador to Indonesia, Mrs. Lyudmila Vorobieva showed her
support and said that in Russia, women are perceived to be strong
beings but, when women become successful, some men are just not
ready to completely accept this reality. "This is where we must
change, and see different views and countries to succeed in this
issue."
"Emancipation of women is when a woman can reach her desires
according to her abilities, where she is equal with men. Women also
do not need to feel disgrace or ashamed. Lack of confidence is one
aspect that many women feel," added Lily Wahid, female activist as
well as the sister of Gus Dur, the 4th Republic of Indonesia
President.
Cheryl Halpern, a director, and philanthropist from the United
States, who also receive the Woman of Inspiration 2019 from a women
international film festival, during the launch, said, �Women�s
equality cannot be taken for granted. Whatever work a woman chooses,
she has the capacity to achieve it, and that is a significant step
forward.�
The series of the IWE starts in March, along with the celebration of
International Women's Day, and initially was launched in Russian
Cultural Center, Jakarta along with women activists, cultural
figures and archipelago kings who were members of the National
Gatherings of Nusantara Kings and Sultan (Silatnas). After that, IWE
was launched at the Sirojul Munir Islamic Boarding School in Bekasi.
Since March 30, the official portal IWE
www.internationalwomenempowerment.com has been
officially launched and can be accessed by the public.
Natasha hopes that this women's empowerment movement can be echoed
not just throughout Indonesia but also internationally, because
the issue of gender equality is a significant issue. |
