Cases of violence against women increase<\/p>\n
Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
What a parrot says can tell you something about its master.
\nA parrot kept at former president Soeharto's home reportedly
\nstill greeted its owner with "Good morning, Mr. President" every
\nsingle day.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, a certain parrot kept at a house in Bekasi, West
\nJava, portrays a sad reality that sometimes occurs between a
\nhusband and a wife.<\/p>\n
"Stupid! You pig!" the parrot shrieked, repeating the words of
\nhis master "Adi", 46, who frequently yells the words to his 43-
\nyear old wife, "Lisa", while also beating her.<\/p>\n
Lisa said she had often considered divorce, but always
\nrelented whenever her husband begged for forgiveness.<\/p>\n
The beatings have become less frequent now that the couple are
\nplanning to go on the haj pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, this
\nyear, although the verbal abuse has continued.<\/p>\n
"I have become frigid and numb," said Lisa, adding that she
\nonly stayed because of her two teenage children.<\/p>\n
Lisa's case is just another example of violence against women
\nin Indonesia, which the National Commission on Violence Against
\nWomen (Komnas Perempuan) said continues to increase every year,
\nwith the highest prevalence being domestic violence.<\/p>\n
Released on Monday, Komnas Perempuan's report shows that at
\nleast 3,160 cases of violence against women were recorded across
\nthe country in 2001. The number increased to 5,163 cases a year
\nlater, and 7,787 cases in 2003.<\/p>\n
In 2004, the number of cases almost doubled to 14,020 cases.<\/p>\n
Of the 14,020 cases, 4,310 were acts of domestic violence,
\n2,470 occurred within the community, 6,634 in households, 562
\nwere female trafficking cases, and the remaining 302 were acts of
\nviolence by state personnel.<\/p>\n
The report was supported by data gathered by 43 women's
\norganizations in 14 provinces, 70 district courts in 20
\nprovinces, two religious courts in two provinces, 28 women's
\ndesks (RPK) at Police headquarters in 28 provinces, 11 hospitals
\nin nine provinces and the Attorney General's Office.<\/p>\n
Komnas Perempuan activist Myra Diarsi said the institutions
\ndealing with cases of violence against women had shown some
\nimprovement in the way that they handled them.<\/p>\n
Their filing systems have also improved and they have been
\nmore willing to share data to establish a more comprehensive and
\nnation-wide database, she added.<\/p>\n
"The fact that these institutions function better is
\nheartening. Other victims are then encouraged to report their
\ncases," Myra said.<\/p>\n
However, she added, the reported cases still represented the
\ntip of the iceberg, with many more cases not being reported.<\/p>\n
Aside from domestic violence, women continue to fall victim in
\nwider circumstances, politically, socially and financially.<\/p>\n
The deadly clashes between the local administration and
\nfarmers in Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara, for instance, caused
\nmany women to lose their husbands. However, as widows are not
\nrecognized as breadwinners, they also lost rights to their lands,
\nleaving them penniless.<\/p>\n
Other prominent cases involved violence against migrant
\nworkers, trafficking and abuse of women in conflict areas, such
\nas Aceh, Maluku and Poso in Central Sulawesi, as well as the
\nenvironmental destruction as occurred in Buyat Bay, North
\nSulawesi, and the Bojong dump site in West Java.<\/p>\n
Komnas Perempuan chairwoman Kamala Chandrakirana said that as
\nviolence against women increased, demand for government action
\nalso increased.<\/p>\n
Progress was achieved in 2004 when the House of
\nRepresentatives passed Law No. 23\/2004 on the elimination of
\ndomestic violence. However, too many law enforcers are still not
\nfamiliar with this law.<\/p>\n
"The government should ensure the implementation of the laws
\nat each level of law enforcement. They should also push for the
\npassing of an anti-trafficking law, and provide shelters, crisis
\ncenters and hospitals for migrant workers," Kamala said.<\/p>\n
Other recommendations from her commission included:
\n Reevaluating policies on migrant workers with a human rights
\nand gender equity approach
\n Making sure that migrants are recognized legally as workers,
\nwith the right to organize
\n Reopening discussions on an alternative draft for an Islamic
\ncode of law that could help reduce violence against women
\n Monitoring the implementation of women's rights in conflict
\nregions
\n Developing a national database on violence against women<\/p>",
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