A few years ago, Papua and West Papua were far from what they are right now. Besides the lagging development in several sectors such as infrastructure, economy, education, and health, the women in Cenderawasih Island didn’t have the same opportunity in society compared to men due to the culture and social system.
Fortunately, some Papuan women continually fight for women’s emancipation in this eastern province of Indonesia. Who are they?
1. Yusan Yeblo
Yusan is known as Mama Yusan among fellow women’s activists. She was born from Migani tribes, a tribe that lives in East Papua. When she was in junior high school, Yusan had to pass through a dark wild forest and took a long walk to get into her school. Her parents once forced her to get married but she was eager to achieve higher education.
While her parents finally accepted her learning desire, Yusan had to struggle against the views of the Migani and Papuans. In 2017, Yusan received the award as a woman peace activist from Deputy for Women’s Rights Protection at the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection in Jakarta.
2. Hana Salomina Hikayobi
Hana Salomina Hikayobi is the woman behind Tabloid Suara Perempuan Papua (TSPP) or Papuan Women’s Voice Tabloid. She also wrote a book called Kabar dari Kampung: Perjalanan Jurnalistik Suara Perempuan Papua or News from the Village: Papuan Women’s Voice Journalism Journey.
Hana consistently uses her writing to remind Papuan women that they have the same right as men. In 2015, Hana was awarded the SK Trimurti as Papuan women’s empowerment and human rights (HAM) activist by the Independence Journalist Alliance or Aliansi Jurnalis Independen (AJI).
3. Yosepha Alomang
Yosepha, or many called her Mama Yosepha, comes from Amungme tribes. She is well known for her struggle to fight for the rights of Papuan and West Papuan people, especially those who lived near PT Freeport Indonesia. She built a health clinic, meeting hall, and orphanage using the money she got from her fight against PT Freeport.
Mama Yosepha owns an institution called YAHAMAK (Yayasan Hak Asasi Manusia Anti Kekerasan) or Human Rights Foundation against Violence which was established in 2001. Mama Yosepha has won several awards, including the Goldman Environmental Award in 2003 and the Yap Thiam Hien Award in 1999.
4. Yohana Susana Yembise
Prof. DR. Yohana Susana Yembise, Dip.Apling, MA becomes the first woman from West Papua who was appointed as a minister in Indonesia. Thanks to her educational background and experiences, Yohana was chosen as Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection (Menppa) of the Republic of Indonesia for the period 2014-2019.
Yohana took elementary education in Jayapura and high school education in Nabire. She graduated from Cendrawasih University in 1985. Before her graduation, in 1983, she served as an assistant lecturer in Language and Arts at the university. Her big wish is to prepare the best generation for Papua and West Papua in the future.
5. Merry C. Yoweny
Merry is the chief of Papuan Entrepreneurs’ Traditional Chamber or Kamar Adat Pengusaha Papua (KAPP). She strongly believes that the welfare and prosperity of Papuan start with the women on this island. She is convinced if women in Papua and West Papua are involved in the economic, education, and health development, there will be rapid growth.
She urged Papuan women to never hesitate to learn and take education to a higher level. She then added Papuan women must be able to compete with men to improve the welfare of the surrounding community.
Those are five Papuan women who will always be remembered for continuously giving women in Papua and West Papua a better role in many aspects.
