Jakarta, March 8 -- A senior Indonesian lawmaker said International Women's Day should serve as momentum to strengthen national awareness of gender equality and accelerate efforts to ensure justice and equal opportunities for women.

Lestari Moerdijat, deputy speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), said meaningful progress toward gender equality requires strong commitment from all sectors of society as well as policies that create structural change.

"Commitment to justice and equality for women cannot be fully realized without support from all parties and policies that drive structural change in society," she said in a statement in Jakarta on Sunday.

Moerdijat said this year's International Women's Day theme, "Give to Gain,...