MEGASHIFT, a publication initiative by the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIPOL) Universitas Gadjah Mada, has released its latest feature article highlighting urgent socio-political issues in Indonesia. Titled “Indigenous Women and the Politics of Periphery in Forest Conservation in Papua”, the article by Halimatu Sa’diah sheds light on the structural injustices faced by Indigenous Papuan women in their struggle to protect ancestral forests.
The article critically explores how Indigenous women—often positioned at the margins of state power—play a crucial role in forest conservation through their deep-rooted local knowledge. Through the lens of periphery politics, Sa’diah analyzes how centralized governance in Java, industrial expansion, and the inadequate legal protection for Indigenous communities have systematically marginalized women, both economically and socially.
Yet, amidst these challenges, the article also highlights forms of creative resistance. Indigenous Papuan women are not merely victims of environmental and political exploitation—they are forest guardians, healers within their communities, and agents of change. Their struggle goes beyond environmental activism; it is a fight for identity, livelihood, and the future of Papua itself.
This article invites readers to recognize the intersectionality of environmental justice, Indigenous rights, and gender equality—underscoring that safeguarding forests is inseparable from protecting the women who have long defended them.
Read the full article at Megashift FISIPOL UGM.