Run for Equality: Move Together Campaigning for Child Protection and Equality for People with Disabilities

Mataram, July 30th , 2023 – As a part of National Children’s Day 2023 celebration, Yayasan Plan International Indonesia (Plan Indonesia), Provincial Government of West Nusa Tenggara, and Mataram City Government held fun run and fun walk with the theme Run for Equality, on July, 30th 2023. Thousand people participated and voiced out child protection and equality for people with disabilities, at Car Free Day area around Sangkareang Park, Mataram.

Mayor of Mataram H. Mohan Roliskana did the flag off for the fun run with the message that Run for Equality is an important activity component in the Mataram City Government’s commitment to creating a safe environment for children, by involving the whole community including the children themselves so they can speak out equality of children’s rights, in an easy and fun way. “We want to encourage West Nusa Tenggara people to understand the importance of inclusivity, equality, and fulfillment of children’s rights, because all of us play vital role to achieve it,” Mohan said.

In 2022, the NTB government records 28,652 people with various disabilities, including children. Children and people with disabilities are still marginalized. Their involvement in various activities such as education related to menstruation and fulfilling their right to access water and adequate sanitation is a concrete form of equality. Qonita (19 years old) is a student in special need school. Her school is assisted by Plan Indonesia through WINNER (Women and Disability Inclusive and Nutrition Sensitive) programme. She expressed her excitement to participate in Run for Equality. “We show that we are all equal and have the same opportunity to actively participate, even though we are different,” Qonita said proudly.

This event is also supported by UNIQLO. This global retail brand from Japan designed the comfortable UNIQLO T-shirt DRY EX, which were worn by Run for Equality participants and committee. Director of Corporate Affairs PT Fast Retailing Indonesia (UNIQLO), Irma Yunita, said, “UNIQLO Indonesia is very happy to celebrate National Children’s Day, by being a part of Run for Equality 2023. This support is one of the implementations of UNIQLO’s sustainability pillars, that is People and Society. This event is also a real proof of UNIQLO’s commitment and belief that cross-sector collaboration is important, to promote equality and basic human rights, especially for children and people with disabilities,” Director of Resource Mobilization Plan Indonesia, Linda Sukandar, stated that this is the first time Run for Equality is held in West Nusa Tenggara, in collaboration with the Provincial Government and City Government. Not only that, various partners and PT. Fast Retailing Indonesia (UNIQLO) also support and actively participate in Run for Equality campaign. “We hope this event can be a new chapter in the fulfillment of children’s rights and equality, especially for girls in West Nusa Tenggara. Everyone can participate with no exception. The warm welcome from the people of West Nusa Tenggara also motivates us to continue fighting for the rights of children, youth, girls, and people with disabilities across Indonesia,” said Linda. (**)

Notes to Editor

About Run for Equality

Run for Equality is a part of Jelajah Timur charity run. The purpose and the spirit of this activity is to voice out equality issues, and inviting people to participate. Since 2019, Jelajah Timur has been held annually with the aim of helping to fulfill access to clean water in Eastern Indonesia. The highlight of Jelajah Timur’s Ultra Marathon will take place in So’e, Timor Tengah Selatan Regency, East Nusa Tenggara on October 27-28th 2023. There will be around 80 long distance runners selected, who will run 108 KM. About Yayasan Plan International Indonesia (Plan Indonesia) Plan International has been working in Indonesia since 1969, officially registered as a national foundation named Yayasan Plan International Indonesia (Plan Indonesia) in 2017. Our vision is to strive for children’s rights and equality for girls. We also work with youth to ensure youth meaningful participation in decision-making that has impact to their lives. Together with youth groups and networks, we work to ensure the meaningful participation of the youth in the decision making that impacts on the fulfilment of the children’s rights and equality for girls. We also mobilise resources with partners, such as private sectors, donor agencies, philanthropy foundations and individual donors, to provide a wider impact for Indonesian children In total, Plan Indonesia’s work on children’s rights and equality takes place in eight provinces and focuses on seven thematic programmes: 1) Stunting Prevention, 2) Elimination of Violence against Children and Youth, 3) Adolescent Health, 4) Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship (YEE), 5) Resilient School, 6) Gender-Responsive Disaster Preparedness and Humanitarian Response and 7) Youth-led Climate Resilience. Plan Indonesia is also taking part in a global campaign, Girls Get Equal, with girls’ leadership as the main focus. Girls Get Equal aims to increase the leadership capacity, agency and social mobility for three million targeted girls, helping them as they claim their equal share of power, freedom and representation. Media Contact Annisa Hanifa, Programme Communications Specialist Email: [email protected]; WA: 081807805393 Intan Mawarwati Sukarna, Marketing Communications Manager Email: [email protected]; HP: 081809442611 About UNIQLO LifeWear Clothing that stems from Japanese values that values simplicity, quality, and durability. Designed to fit timeless, LifeWear is crafted with modern elegance that forms the foundation of every individual’s style. A perfect shirt that is always made more perfect. The simplest design hides the most discreet and modern details. The best materials and cuts are made to be accessible to everyone at affordable prices. LifeWear is clothing that is constantly innovating, bringing more warmth, lighter weight, better design and better comfort to people’s lives. About UNIQLO and Fast Retailing UNIQLO is a brand of Fast Retailing Co., Ltd., a leading Japanese retail holding company with offices based in Tokyo, Japan. UNIQLO is the largest brand of the eight brands in the Fast Retailing Group, namely GU, Theory, PLST, Comptoir des Cotonniers, Princesse tam.tam, J Brand and Helmut Lang. With a global sales value of around 2.3 Trillion yen for the last 2022 year, as of August 31, 2022 (US $ 16.6 billion, calculated at the exchange rate at the end of August 2022 of 1 Dollar = 138.7 Yen), Fast Retailing is one of the world’s largest clothing store, and UNIQLO is Japan’s leading specialty retailer. UNIQLO continues to open large-scale stores in some of the world’s most important cities and locations, as part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen its status as a global brand. Currently the company has a total of more than 2,400 stores worldwide, including Japan, Asia, Europe and North America. With a corporate statement committed to changing clothes, changing conventional wisdom, and changing the world, Fast Retailing is dedicated to creating great clothing with new and unique values to enrich the lives of people everywhere. For more information about UNIQLO and Fast Retailing, please visit www.uniqlo.com and www.fastretailing.com. For more information, contact:

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