New crisis center persists to change public attitude<\/p>\n
By Imelda Anwar<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A new crisis center for victims of domestic
\nviolence is hanging on to its cause although it has drawn only 10
\npatients in the three weeks since opening.<\/p>\n
The crisis center at the Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital
\n(RSCM) believes that domestic violence is a more common
\noccurrence in society than most people realize, but it is rarely
\nreported and the victims are rarely treated.<\/p>\n
The center, located close to the hospital's emergency unit,
\noffers a one-stop service to women and children who are victims
\nof domestic violence.<\/p>\n
Besides providing medical treatment, the center provides
\nassistance in psychological treatment and legal counseling, and
\nworks closely with the police and institutions which run shelter
\nhomes for the victims.<\/p>\n
Although it has not been very busy, the center also sees its
\nmission as raising public awareness about domestic violence and
\nabout the need for people to come forward, report incidents to
\nthe authorities and seek treatment.<\/p>\n
Because of the nature of the violence, these incidents are
\nrarely reported, until things get really bad, such as when the
\nvictims require medical treatment. Based on this, experts at the
\nclinic believe that only 10 percent of cases of domestic
\nviolence, a criminal offense, find their way to the courtrooms.<\/p>\n
The crisis center is a pilot project by the hospital in
\ncollaboration with the National Commission on Violence Against
\nWomen, the Jakarta Police, the University of Indonesia, several
\nNGOs and the Office of State Minister for Women's Empowerment.<\/p>\n
\"We run a 24-hour hotline service,\" Budi Sampurna, head of
\nRSCM crisis center, said.<\/p>\n
The center, which is fully funded by a foreign organization,
\ncurrently employs six general practitioners, three nurses and
\nfour social workers as well as several on-call psychologists,
\npsychiatrists, gynecologists, and lawyers.<\/p>\n
Almost all the 10 cases handled since its opening were related
\nto sexual abuse.<\/p>\n
Mutia Prayanti Errufana, an obstetrician at the center, said
\nthe current trend is for victims to report to the police station
\nfirst, before being referred to various institutions and to a
\nhospital for medical treatment.<\/p>\n
Mutia believed that more and more victims in the future will
\ncome to the center first.<\/p>\n
Burning pain<\/p>\n
She related the example of a seven-year old girl, who came
\nwith her mother, complaining of burning pain in her stomach and
\nvagina, especially every time she urinated. The girl later told
\nthe doctors that she had been sexually abused by her uncle, who
\nhad also threatened to kill her if she told anyone.<\/p>\n
Proving cases of domestic violence in court however could be
\neven more challenging. Most cases were settled \"in a familial
\nway\" and never reached the courtroom.<\/p>\n
Iit Rahmatid, a lawyer at the Indonesian Association of Women
\nfor Justice, said the current criminal code states that sex with
\na minor -- under 15 years old -- is a crime punishable by up to
\nnine years in jail.<\/p>\n
The law, however, as stated in Article 287 of the code,
\nrequires the presence of a witness to testify sexual abuse.<\/p>\n
Iit said psychological counseling often helped victims to
\npress charges against their assailants.<\/p>\n
Kaliana Mitra, a women's organization, said it handled 47
\ncases of violence against woman in 1999, and 19 cases so far this
\nyear, mostly involving domestic violence.<\/p>\n
Saparinah Sadli, chairwoman of the National Commission for
\nWomen, said the qualifications and ability of those who handled
\ncases of domestic violence is important.<\/p>\n
\"They have to be gender-sensitive,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Public opinion has a tendency to throw blame at the victims
\nwhen what they need is support and understanding, Saparinah said.<\/p>\n
Society puts pressure on victims to keep the case within the
\nfamily and to carry the pain by themselves, she added. (07)<\/p>",
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