Indonesian Minister for Women's Empowerment and Child Protection, Arifah Choiri Fauzi, faced public backlash for proposing a change in the placement of women-only train carriages. Her suggestion came on 28/4, following a visit to victims of a train accident in West Java province that killed 16 women and injured 90 people. The incident, which occurred a day earlier, involved a long-distance train colliding with the last car of a commuter train, a carriage specifically reserved for women. After her visit, she proposed moving women-only carriages to the middle of trains, "leaving men at both ends." This proposal immediately drew criticism on social media, with some users interpreting it as an implication that men's lives were less valuable.

Minister Arifah Choiri Fauzi. *Photo: Instagram/@arifah.fauzi*

Critics quickly condemned the proposal, emphasizing the equal value of all lives. One prominent comment on Arifah's Instagram post from user wscofficial25 stated: "Every human life is equally precious, both men and women. Men are also fathers, sons, husbands, and family to those who love and depend on them. As a state official, you should promote safety solutions to protect all passengers, rather than suggesting one gender is more expendable than another."

Responding to the outcry, Arifah issued an apology on 29/4 via her personal and the ministry's Instagram accounts, acknowledging her previous statements as "inappropriate." She said: "I sincerely apologize to the public, especially the victims and their families, who felt hurt or uncomfortable by these remarks. I had no intention of disregarding the safety of passengers."

The Indonesian official reaffirmed that safety remains a top priority for everyone, both women and men. She emphasized: "I understand that during this painful time, the focus must be on ensuring safety, supporting victims, and empathizing with all affected families." Arifah further committed to providing psychological support, protection, and necessary aid, especially for children and families traumatized by the train tragedy.

Rescue forces at the scene after the train collision in Indonesia on 28/4. *Photo: AFP*

Women-only carriages have been a feature of Indonesian trains since 2012, typically positioned at both ends of the train.

This recent incident is not Indonesia's first serious railway accident. In 1/2024, a collision in West Java province killed four train staff and injured approximately 20 people. Another accident in 2015 saw a commuter train strike a bus at a Jakarta intersection, resulting in 16 fatalities.

Huyen Le (According to CNA, AFP)