"I am impressed listening to Indonesian Women Empowerment and Child Protection Minister Yohana Yembise speech and desire to learn more of her programs," First Lady of Afghanistan Rula Ghani said.
Kabul, Afghanistan (ANTARA News) - Islamic Republic of Afghanistan wants to adopt Indonesias women empowerment program to be implemented in the war-affected country.

"I am impressed listening to Indonesian Women Empowerment and Child Protection Minister Yohana Yembise speech and desire to learn more of her programs," First Lady of Afghanistan Rula Ghani said during a meeting with Yembise in her residence in Kabul, Tuesday.

Afghan government is committed to promote women empowerment, but on the other hand its Ministry of Womens Affairs which is only 16 years of age, has yet the ability nor experience to run such programs.

"We have a brilliant Minister of Womens Affairs (Alhaj Delbar Nazari), but she is still lack of experiences. Therefore, we want to learn from Indonesia whose women are quite advanced and able to reflect a tolerant Islam," Ghani said.

The First Lady is interested to "3Ends" program which aims to end violence against women and girls as well as children-friendly cities/regencies program initiated by the Indonesian government.

Yembise deeply appreciates the will of Afghan government to change the situation in the vulnerable country.

She said that Indonesia will always help Afghanistan in many possible ways, as Indonesia puts the Middle East country into its concern.

"Afghanistan is our brother, President (Joko Widodo) has declared that Afghanistan is one of the priority countries to be taken into concern," Yembise noted.

After holding a meeting with the First Lady, Yembise took a chance to meet her counterpart Minister Nazari to talk about cooperation of women empowerment which memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed in 2012.

Some points that included in the MoU are the request from Afghan government for Indonesian government to open market access for Afghan women.

In addition, Nazari also asks Indonesia to provide scholarships and exchange program for Afghan women ulemas to study in the archipelago.

"Responding to such requests, I will firstly discuss with the relevant institutions and ministries such as the Research and Technology and Higher Education Ministry," Yembise said.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2017