33 NGOs demand bans on sexist ads<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Thirty three non-government organizations
\ndemanded yesterday advertisements insulting women's dignity be
\nbanned.<\/p>\n
Spearheaded by the Indonesian Consumers Agency (YLKI), they
\nlodged their petition with the Ministry of Information, the
\noffice of State Minister of Women's Roles, the advertising
\nagencies' governing body and the mass media.<\/p>\n
In their five-point demand, the NGOs urged the information
\nministry to set up an advertising controlling body comprising
\ngovernment and non-government organization representatives.<\/p>\n
"The body should be truly free from conflict of interest in
\nadvertising. Membership of the existing Film Censorship body
\nshould be expanded to encompass NGOs," the petition stated.<\/p>\n
The NGOs demand the government and the Advertising Companies
\nAssociation scrap ads demeaning women, especially those
\nportraying women as sex objects.<\/p>\n
They said it was time the Advertising Companies Association
\nimproved its code of ethics so sexual harassment in advertising
\ncould be minimized.<\/p>\n
The statementburged advertising producers, models and all
\nparties involved in making advertisements to stop arguing they
\nwere exercising their artistic rights when making advertisements
\nwhich were offensive to women.<\/p>\n
Newspapers, magazines, radio and television stations have been
\nasked to stop publishing the indecent advertisements.<\/p>\n
The NGOs made the petition in connection with the
\ncommemoration of "No Violence against Women Day", Nov. 24.<\/p>\n
They said women in Indonesia were subject to harassment. Women
\nare traditionally shown in inferior positions to men and
\nassociated with domestic affairs, like raising children, cooking
\nand serving their husbands.<\/p>\n
Several TV advertisements portray women as sexual objects such
\nas the commercial for the herbal medicine, Idaman.<\/p>\n
The advertisement claims the herbal medicine restores women's
\nyouthful sexual appeal so much that husbands stop going to
\n"meetings" every night so they can stay home with their
\nrevitalized wives.<\/p>\n
"This particular advertisement misleadingly tells the audience
\nthat happiness in the family is determined by whether the wife is
\nable to sexually please her husband," the NGOs said.<\/p>\n
"Women are objects and victims of misperception formed by
\nsocio-cultural, economic and political systems dominated by men,"
\nthey said.<\/p>\n
So many commercials disrespect the marriage institution
\ndistorting gender equality, they said. (pan)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/33-ngos-demand-bans-on-sexist-ads-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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