IN FOCUS: INDONESIA

The government of Indonesia has postponed the implementation of its carbon tax to iron out its wrinkles, but it must remember that time is of the essence, Yetty Komalasari Dewi writes.

With more Indonesian families coming to rely on two incomes to make ends meet, parents need a helping hand from government and employers when it comes to childcare, Michelle Andrina and Sylvia Andriyani Kusumandari write.

While Indonesia has made important strides towards gender equality in politics and its diplomatic corps, there is still significant work to be done, Ella Prihatini writes.

For Indonesia’s social protection policies to properly advance gender equality, they must do more for women outside their traditional social roles, Vania Budianto writes.

To help Indonesian women stay in the formal labour market after their first child, policymakers should invest in affordable childcare, transport, and Internet infrastructure to provide greater flexibility, Sarah Xue Dong and Nurina Merdikawati write.

Gender relations reveal ever-moving fault lines in a society – their complexity demands nuance, care, and a multidimensional lens that puts in focus all the economic and social factors affecting them, Angie Bexley writes.

While structural inequality continues to create discrimination against people with disabilities in Indonesia, a shift to a human-rights based approach is a chance to bridge the gap, Dian Maya Safitri writes.

In the wake of the devastating health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, Indonesia – as G20 president – has an opportunity to promote vaccine equity and support the region’s recovery, Luther Lie and Yetty Komalasari Dewi write.

Despite focusing on the country’s COVID-19 recovery, Indonesian policymakers cannot afford to sideline low carbon development projects and other sustainable development initiatives, Hening Wikan writes.

While Indonesia appears to be making progress towards gender equity, the country’s latest update on its progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals doesn’t tell the full story, Angie Bexley and Sharon Bessell write.