Jakarta, June 1 -- Women's Empowerment and Child Protection Minister Arifah Fauzi welcomed Religious Affairs Minister Nasaruddin Umar's plan to increase the number of female Amiratul Hajj to better serve women pilgrims.

"The number of pilgrimage guides for women is not yet optimal. This [plan] is good news, especially for women Hajj pilgrims, as it will make Hajj services more women-friendly," Fauzi said in a statement received in Jakarta on Saturday.

For this year's Hajj pilgrimage, Fauzi is the sole woman appointed as the Amiratul Hajj or the leader of Indonesian women pilgrims.

In this role, she directly monitors the services and protection provided to female pilgrims, covering aspects from accommodations and guidance to emergency r...