To mark this year’s 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, the National Commission on Violence against Women (Komnas Perempuan) has launched a joint campaign to encourage the participation of all elements of the civil society in the movement.
Named “#GerakBersama” (moving together) the campaign invites organizations, communities and the public in general to be involved in ending violence against women, and to push the House of Representatives and the government to process a much-awaited Bill on the Elimination of Sexual Violence.
The commission’s latest annual report on violence against women showed a 25 percent rise in the number of violence against women in 2017 from 259,150 cases to 348,446.
“This [campaign] provides a momentum to push the government and parliament to discuss and process the Draft Law on the Elimination of Sexual Violence. The rights for the victims of sexual violence have to be fully protected, especially their rights to recovery and justice,” said Komnas Perempuan Commissioner Mariana Amiruddin in a press briefing on Nov 23.
Ahead of the commemoration of this international campaign, the commission also found a new trend of sexual violence cases that was brought into attention by the mass media as well as social media, such as the case of a Gadjah Mada University student who was sexually assaulted by a fellow student.
“The case was poorly handled. There was no priority for her recovery although it must be very traumatizing. This means sexual violence is not considered as a heavy violation by academics and educational institution,” said Komnas Perempuan Chair Azriana.
The other case is that of the Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara, high school teacher Baiq Nuril Maknun, who was harassed by the school’s headmaster, but who had instead been sentenced to six months imprisonment and half a billion rupiah in fine by the Supreme Court for violating the Electronic Information and Transaction Law.
“Our current legal system shows a lack of protection for victims. This also perpetuates impunity for the perpetrator,” said Azriana.
Mariana expressed her concern over the increasing complexity of these cases: “This convinced us to encourage the government to immediately ratify the anti-sexual violence bill as a legal umbrella to protect those who are prone to sexual violence, such as women and sexual minority group.”
Komnas Perempuan also initiates seven events that range from public discussion to carnival in collaboration with several partners such as Google Indonesia, HelloMotion, Central Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI), the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (Kominfo), @America, Grab Indonesia and 16 Film Festival.
The campaign will culminate in a grand “Cultural Parade” on Dec. 8 to urge the Ratification of the Bill on the Elimination of Sexual Violence by Parliament.
In addition, the commission holds various events and activities, teaming up with more than 80 partners and organizations including Indonesian Planned Parenthood Association (PKBI), Jurnal Perempuan Foundation, Kalyanamitra, Never Okay Project, the Jakarta women legal aid, HelpNona, and many more. The events will be held in many cities in Indonesia, from Aceh to West Papua ranging from group discussions, workshops, exhibitions, screenings, to performing arts.
If you’d like to take part in Komnas Perempuan’s 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence Campaign, click here and find out how to register.
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