Passing of domestic violence bill urged<\/p>\n
Eva C. Komandjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas
\nPerempuan) is urging the government to endorse the bill on
\ndomestic violence (RUU A-KDRT) before the April general election.<\/p>\n
The chief of the commission, Kamala Chandrakirana, said on
\nMonday that without the bill being passed into law, the 303
\ninstitutions working together with Komnas Perempuan would not be
\nable to help domestic violence victims by punishing the guilty
\nparties.<\/p>\n
\"We have been discussing the bill intensively with the House
\nof Representatives since early last year, but until now there is
\nno sign that the draft will be endorsed soon,\" said Kamala.<\/p>\n
Komnas Perempuan stated that due to the increasing number of
\ncases of domestic violence, the government should endorse it soon
\nas part of the country's commitment to upholding citizens'
\nrights, especially those of women.<\/p>\n
A report by Komnas Perempuan shows that of 5,934 reported
\ncases of violence, approximately 46 percent (2,703 cases)
\ninvolved domestic violence or violence within the family.<\/p>\n
Domestic violence is a situation where the guilty party is a
\nrelative of the victim -- husband, sibling, parent, grandparent
\nor even boyfriend.<\/p>\n
\"Domestic violence is not limited to assault only, but can be
\nanything such as sexual harassment, rape or psychological abuse,\"
\nsaid Kamala.<\/p>\n
She further said that it was difficult to find data on
\ndomestic violence because most victims did not want to report the
\nviolence perpetrated against them.<\/p>\n
Therefore, Komnas Perempuan together with other institutions
\nsuch as women's crisis centers and the Legal Aid Institute (LBH)
\nare trying to make people more aware of the problem of violence
\nagainst women, reasoning that it is everyone's responsibility to
\nreduce the number of such cases.<\/p>\n
From year to year, the reports of violence against women has
\nconstantly increased. In 2001, the number of reported cases was
\n3,169, and in the following year, the figure jumped to 5,163
\ncases. During 2003, the number of reported cases was 5,934.<\/p>\n
From a total of the 5,934 cases, only 162 cases reached court,
\nthe others were withdrawn by the victims or failed because there
\nwas insufficient evidence.<\/p>\n
Recently, Komnas Perempuan, working together with 14
\norganizations across the country, held a 16-day campaign to stop
\nviolence against women. The campaign started on Nov. 25 last year
\nin 15 cities throughout the country.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/passing-of-domestic-violence-bill-urged-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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