Virtual Public Discussion – Keep Her in Your Prayers: Why the Involvement of Religious Leaders and Organizations Matter in Protecting and Empowering Women in Society during the COVID-19

The spread of the COVID-19 pandemic gives a new challenge to the global health system and a test to the United Nations member states commitments in protecting and empowering women in society. UN Women reveals that the economic impact of the COVID-19 is affecting women disproportionately and differently than men. The imposed social restrictions or even complete lockdowns in some countries have been affecting minority groups, informal workers and women-led small businesses in varying degrees, from having to balance between the new normal of taking care of their families while also working from home, to simply not having the luxuries to do so at all.

Continue reading

KF – FPCI Virtual Dialogue – Democracy in the Time of COVID-19: Challenges and Future Opportunities

COVID-19 pandemic is not only a global health crisis, it has challenged the current state of our democracy. While both Indonesia and South Korea are countries that have been promoting democratic values in its socio-political system, this unprecedented COVID-19 has grown more concerned whether the pandemic has become the cover for the current political leadership’s authoritarian instinct and intent. Both governments have different containment policies and measures in combating COVID-19 and has also resulted in a dissimilar effect on the ground. This condition has sparked questions of whether democracy is the best form of government in handling the pandemic and how well kept are the values of democracy during the pandemic globally and particularly in both countries? What containment policies might be considered as authoritarian and has it significantly impacted citizens’ freedom of rights and expression?

Continue reading

Virtual Public Discussion – The Crash of Oil Price: What does it mean for Indonesia?

The combination of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the oil collapse has created new threats to the economy, along with political instability and poverty in countries reliant on oil sales. The oil price war could be traced back to when OPEC producers tried to negotiate a production cut in line with a global demand slowdown and this condition has led to the oil price crash. With lockdown measures being implemented in 187 countries – bringing mobility to a halt- demand for oil has fallen resulted in the global oil price crash.

Continue reading

Virtual Public Discussion – Ramadan during COVID-19: How Countries and Communities in Indonesia, the United Kingdom, and Pakistan Ensure a Safe Ramadan amidst the Pandemic

Ramadan is known as the time when gatherings and activities such as communal prayers, communal meals or banquets and pilgrimages are conducted every day amongst family, friends and also the mosque community. However, with the current COVID-19 pandemic, governments and the World Health Organizations (WHO) have taken several measurements to ensure a safe Ramadan practice while maintaining social distancing. As a result, physical worships such as communal prayers and religious sermons have been avoided and prayers are conducted at home using virtual alternatives.

Continue reading

Virtual Roundtable Discussion – Governor Ridwan Kamil & Foreign Ambassadors Discuss the Fight Against Covid-19 in West Java

On Monday, 11 May 2020, Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia (FPCI) has successfully convened a virtual roundtable discussion involving Governor of West Java Ridwan Kamil and several Foreign Ambassadors to Indonesia. The discussion was moderated by Dr. Dino Patti Djalal, Founder of FPCI. The Governor and Ambassadors had a fruitful discussion on best experiences and practices in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Continue reading

Special Virtual Public Discussion – Indonesia’s Foreign Policy in Addressing the Threat of COVID-19

Like all countries around the world, for Indonesia, diplomacy is a critical part of the life-and death efforts to beat the Covid-19 pandemic. This involves a variety of important tasks: evacuating Indonesian citizens from affected areas, coordinating with WHO on Covid-19 knowhow, securing medical equipments including test kits from international manufacturers, pushing an ASEAN response, ensuring effective international cooperation, mitigating the economic impacts of Covid-19, and so on.

Continue reading

Virtual Public Discussion – Multi-Faith Efforts in Addressing COVID-19 in Indonesia and Across the Globe

The World Economic Forum acknowledges that faith leaders can actually provide such comfort to their communities by turning to religious texts and theology, and encouraging safe practices. However, they also recognize the need for “an immediate and whole-of society approach to prevent the transmission of the virus.” Particularly for some communities, they need an extra measure of help more than ever as well. It is the kind of relief that is not just spiritual relief, but also physical and financial ones. The question is, how can interfaith communities collaboratively work to respond to the pandemic? What are some of the things that been done in this respect all around the world?

Continue reading

Virtual Public Discussion – Anticipating a Covid-19 Global Economic Crisis: How Should Indonesia Get Prepared?

COVID-19 has created a global economic crisis that is now hitting countries across the world. Travel, tourism, production, and international trade have been severely disrupted. Businesses across many industries are forced to shut down. International Monetary Fund projected that the world economy is most likely to experience its worst recession since the Great Depression. How has Covid-19 actually been impacting the world and Indonesian economy? How should the Indonesian government mitigate the risks of possible economic depression?

Continue reading