USU PR – In an effort to strengthen synergy between the central government, regional governments, and higher education institutions in realizing equitable development for women and children, the Government of North Sumatra Province (Pemprov Sumut), together with the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection of the Republic of Indonesia (KemenPPA), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Advocacy for Strengthening the Development of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection in North Sumatra.

The signing ceremony took place at Raja Inal Siregar Hall on Friday night (11/7/2025), in a warm atmosphere filled with a spirit of collaboration. The event was attended by the Vice Governor of North Sumatra, H. Surya, B.Sc., as well as the Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection of the Republic of Indonesia, Arifah Fauzi. Also present were the leaders of two major universities in North Sumatra, namely Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU), represented by Rector Prof. Dr. Muryanto Amin, S.Sos., M.Si., and Universitas Islam Negeri Sumatera Utara (UINSU).

In his remarks, Vice Governor H. Surya, B.Sc., expressed appreciation to KemenPPA for the cooperation that has been established. He emphasized that the North Sumatra Provincial Government is committed to continuously improving community welfare, particularly for women and children, through empowerment programs aligned with the direction of the 2025–2029 Regional Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMD).

“The North Sumatra Provincial Government strives to ensure that every woman and child has equal access to development and protection. This collaboration is a concrete step toward strengthening an equitable and inclusive development ecosystem,” he stated.

In line with this commitment, the North Sumatra Provincial Government recorded various positive achievements, including an increase in the Gender Development Index (GDI) to 91.50 points and a decrease in the Gender Inequality Index (GII) to 0.399. As of October 2025, a total of 1,444 cases of violence against women and children have been recorded and are being handled in collaboration with the Integrated Service Unit for the Empowerment of Women and Children (UPTD PPA) and related institutions.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection, Arifah Fauzi, appreciated the steps and commitment of the North Sumatra Provincial Government in strengthening policies for the protection of women and children. She emphasized the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration, including higher education institutions, in creating a safe, just, and inclusive environment for vulnerable groups.

“Cross-sector collaboration is the key. The central government cannot work alone. Synergy with regional governments and universities is essential to ensure that every policy truly has an impact on society,” said Minister Arifah.

On the same occasion, Minister Arifah also introduced several priority programs of KemenPPA, including Ruang Bersama Indonesia (RBI) as a development of Women- and Child-Friendly Villages, the expansion of SAPA 129 services to accelerate the handling of violence cases, and the strengthening of the national data system for women and children as a foundation for evidence-based policymaking.

The event concluded with the presentation of souvenirs and a group photo session involving representatives of the North Sumatra Provincial Government, KemenPPA, and higher education institutions.

Through this collaboration, it is expected that North Sumatra can become a leading, progressive, and sustainable province, particularly in realizing welfare and protection for women and children. USU also expressed its commitment to continue playing an active role in supporting institutional capacity strengthening and academic studies oriented toward gender-equitable human development in Indonesia.