Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Hemas, deputy speaker of the Regional Representatives Council, speaks at the Congress of Female Muslim Clerics held in Cirebon, West Java. (Photo supplied)
Sexual violence, child marriage and environmental destruction were some of the issues deliberated by hundreds of female Muslim clerics at an international conference held in Indonesia, the first of its kind in the world.
A broad range of issues affecting women were tabled at the Congress of Female Muslim Clerics held in Cirebon, West Java which ended recently.
As part of the three-day conference the female Muslim clerics, or "ulema," issued a fatwa against child marriage.
During the program, they also committed to educating their communities about sexual violence and environmental issues in their dakwah (preaching).
The female clerics will also directly help women affected by violence and try to create counseling programs.
Organizers said that around 500 people, including women from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Kenya, attended the event said to be the first of its kind.
Ninik Rahayu, one of the event's organizers, said that female Muslim clerics wanted to respond to humanitarian issues instead of political ones. "We agreed not to focus on issues related to regional elections or politics," Rahayu said.
Anggia Ermarini, chairperson of the women's wing of Nahdlatul Ulama, Indonesia's largest Islamic organization, said the conference will strengthen her group's efforts. "We began focusing on these issues only a few years ago.… We have anti-violence movements at national and regional levels," Ermarini said.
Christian leaders in Indonesia have welcomed the commitments made during the congress that address pressing social issues.
"The issues need serious attention from all of us," the Rev. Henriette T. Lebang, chairwoman of the Communion of Churches in Indonesia, told ucanews.com on May 3.
The Rev. Lebang said people from all religious backgrounds should work together in dealing with social issues because "these are problems we face together."
Dominican Sister Natalia Sumarni from the Indonesian bishops' Secretariat for Gender and Women Empowerment called the commitments made during the congress "a very good stance" and hoped that "it would be effective."
Sister Sumarni said the commitments made to protect the environment are in accordance with the Catholic Church's efforts, especially Pope Francis' encyclical Laudato si.
The nun similarly welcomed the congress’ outcomes on child marriage and added that child marriage remains rampant in country.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics, 292,663 girls married before the age of 16, and 110,198 before 15 in 2012.