EN
ID
ACTNews, SOUTH
JAKARTA – Indonesia celebrates Mother’s Day on December 22. It was
officially made a holiday under Presidential Decree No. 316/1959 by President Sukarno.
What is the history behind Mother’s Day in Indonesia?
The Ministry of
Women's Empowerment and Child Protection explained that Mother's Day is a day
to remember and appreciate the struggle of Indonesian women. They have
participated in the struggle for Indonesian Independence and have also actively
taken various roles in society.
In the Guidelines
for the Commemoration of Mother's Day, the Ministry of Education and Culture writes
that inspired by the spirit of the Youth Pledge of 1928, several Indonesian female
leaders decided to unite in an independent forum. From December 22 to 25, 1928,
the First Indonesian Women's Congress was held in Yogyakarta.
One of the
decisions was the formation of an organization called
the Indonesian Women's Association (PPPI). In 1929, PPPI changed its name to
the Association of Indonesian Wives (PPII). In 1935, the second Indonesian
Women's Congress was held in Jakarta. This congress stipulated the main
function of Indonesian women as Mothers of the Nation whose duty is to grow and
educate a new generation with a stronger sense of nationality.
At the Third
Indonesian Women's Congress in 1938 in Bandung, December 22 was designated as
Mother's Day and later confirmed by a Presidential Decree.
Appreciation for
mothers and women has also fueled Aksi Cepat Tanggap (ACT)’s empowerment
programs that include the provision of business assistance for women-owned MSMEs
and scholarships for female teachers. With these programs, ACT strives to
strengthen the roles of women as a driving force for the nation's progress. []
