More domestic violence reported, but not tried<\/p>\n
Dewi Santoso, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Despite the rising confidence among women to report domestic
\nviolence to law enforcers, many of them opt to seek an out-of-
\ncourt settlement, or drop the case, a state institution says.<\/p>\n
The National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas
\nPerempuan) said on Tuesday that of the total 5,934 cases of
\ndomestic violence it handled in 2003, only 162 were heard by the
\ncourt. The rest were either withdrawn by the victims, or rejected
\ndue to insufficient evidence.<\/p>\n
A women's organization devoted to the eradication of domestic
\nviolence, Mitra Perempuan, confirmed the trend, saying that 70
\npercent of the 572 cases it recorded last year were settled out
\nof court.<\/p>\n
\"Our country's legal protection of victims of domestic
\nviolence is minimal,\" Mitra Perempuan's executive director Rita
\nSerena Kolibonso told a national conference held in conjunction
\nwith the non-governmental organization's ninth anniversary.<\/p>\n
Rita said victims were often discouraged by their friends'
\nnegative responses, and the way in which the police followed up
\non their reports.<\/p>\n
\"Often, the victims, who are supposedly under protection, are
\ncriticized and isolated by society. As a result, they choose not
\nto file reports so as to avoid the humiliation,\" Rita said.<\/p>\n
A policewoman who spoke at the conference said that although
\nit was true that legal protection for victims was barely
\nadequate, sometimes, it was the victims themselves who suddenly
\ndropped their cases.<\/p>\n
\"I once handled a domestic violence case for two weeks.
\nSuddenly, the female victim dropped the case because her husband
\nfell ill and she was sorry for him,\" said the policewoman.<\/p>\n
Speakers at the conference agreed that the bill on
\nanti-domestic-violence should be passed, to put an end to the
\nuncertainty.<\/p>\n
Rita said the much-awaited bill would curb the incidence of
\ndomestic violence as the police would be empowered to investigate
\ncases, even if they were not reported by the victims.<\/p>\n
A survey conducted by Mitra Perempuan-affiliated Women's
\nCrisis Centers (WCC) in 13 cities reveals cases recorded between
\nApril 2003 and March 2004, as: Jakarta (300 cases); Bandung (33
\ncases); Purwokerto (14 cases) and Surakarta (25 cases), both in
\nCentral Java; Jombang, East Java, (53 cases); Banda Aceh (14
\ncases); Bengkulu (22 cases); Bandar Lampung (25 cases); Palembang
\n(10 cases); Pontianak (7 cases); Manado (10 cases); Makassar (30
\ncases) and Kupang (32 cases).<\/p>\n
Cases of domestic violence against women in the country have
\nconstantly increased from year to year, Mitra Perempuan claimed.
\nFrom 3,169 cases reported in 2001, the figure surged to 5,163
\ncases in 2002, and 5,934 in 2003.<\/p>\n
Article 12 of the bill says that anyone who witnesses domestic
\nviolence should report it to the police.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/more-domestic-violence-reported-but-not-tried-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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