Aim

WRI Indonesia aims to ensure women's active participation in leadership and decision-making processes so that their valuable insights can help inform more equitable and sustainable solutions for Tanah Papua.

Where

Six provinces of Tanah Papua

Why

Women play a vital role in their communities and in the protection and management of natural resources writ large. They are at the heart of Papuan life and cultural roots have traditionally centered around them. They have deep-seated traditional knowledge about their customary history, the environment and natural resources and serve as guardians of their communities and nature. Their intimate relationship with nature equips them with a unique understanding of local ecosystems which can be leveraged to protect the forest and foster community resilience by adopting sustainable, customary practices they have been carrying out for generations.

Papuan women are seen as resilient and strong. They play a crucial role in driving the local economy through their involvement in many activities such as farming, fishing, and producing handicrafts. Concurrently, they are the primary caregivers for their families, expected to manage the household, harvest, and ensure food security year-round. They manage the natural resources of their environments in a sustainable manner, often near their homes, so that they can do so in tandem with caring for their children and families.  

Women further play a crucial role in the success of traditional ceremonies and customary decisions in ensuring the meetings and rituals run smoothly. Like historians, they keep records of the tribe’s history and memorize customary traditions passed down from generation to generation. Women have played key roles as mediators during disputes and in conflict resolution due to their deep knowledge of their family, clan and tribal histories, as well as their commitment to prioritizing the community's needs over individual desires.  

However, despite their central roles within their communities and for the environment, Papuan women face marginalization, they often lack the recognition and inclusion they deserve and remain neglected in health, education, and employment. Strategic decisions, such as selling customary lands, are usually made by men and women are excluded from important village meetings and decision making. Furthermore, the double burden of being the primary caregiver to their family whilst contributing to the local economy is hindering their ability to be the stewards of their ecosystem. Few women have educational opportunities, with many forced into early marriages and family responsibilities that limit their time to realise educational growth. Despite the special autonomy law stating that good governance is realized with the greatest possible participation of the people, including women, they are often excluded from key decision-making processes. The 2021 Gender Empowerment Indices (IDG) for Papuan provinces are below the national average - Papua Province (67.50), West Papua Province (62.17), national average 76.26 (BPS, 2021). Furthermore, the maternal mortality rate in Papuan Province was the highest across Indonesia with as many as 565 deaths per 100,000 births in Papua province alone (2020), indicating an overall lack of quality health services, especially affecting women in Papua. The above are a few reflections of the many unfavorable conditions that women in Papua face.  

Recognizing and empowering Papuan women presents a significant opportunity. Their unique perspectives and knowledge make them invaluable contributors to the sustainable development dialogue. To achieve this, it is essential to understand their unique relationship with the environment and ensure their active participation in leadership and decision-making processes so that their valuable insights can help inform more equitable and sustainable solutions. 

How

Through its regional office in Papua, WRI Indonesia is committed to conducting research on women, especially to better understand the relationship between women and the environment and their role for advancing long-term community welfare and efforts to realize conservation.  

In close collaboration with universities and other stakeholders, WRI Indonesia regularly provides capacity building measures and opportunities for knowledge sharing, including for women. For example, as part of WRI’s Regional Papua Learning Circle (“Lingkar Belajar Tanah Papua”), WRI frequently organizes themed public discussions, some of which are dedicated to Papuan Indigenous Women.