Poor definition allows violations against women<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Violations against women will continue until
\ncampaigners abandon their patriarchal interpretations of human
\nrights which disregard women's rights.<\/p>\n
Rights activists said at a seminar yesterday the lack of a
\nclear definition of human rights created loopholes for \"the
\npatriarchs\" to implement concepts which benefit their own
\ninterests.<\/p>\n
Organized by the legal aid institute of the Association of
\nIndonesian Women for Justice (APIK) and the Institute for Policy
\nResearch and Advocacy (ELSAM), the one-day seminar featured legal
\nexperts Nursyahbani Katjasungkana and Abdul Hakim Garuda
\nNusantara, and activists Ita Nadia, Galuh Wandita and Mansour
\nFakih.<\/p>\n
Since 1945 there have been more than 20 international laws on
\nthe status of women. These international covenants, the speakers
\nagreed, failed to address the root of the problem, namely gender
\ninequality.<\/p>\n
Gender-based violence against women includes sexual abuse,
\ndomestic violence, genital mutilation, enforced sterilization and
\nsexual and emotional harassment.<\/p>\n
\"Misconstrued, incomplete perceptions of feminism perpetuates
\ngender-based violence,\" Ita Nadia from Kalyanamitra said, adding
\nthat people generally got caught up in the defensive rhetoric and
\ndiscourse of feminism rather than trying to understand it.<\/p>\n
The activists agreed the government has not shown enough
\npolitical will to increase its protection of women's rights or
\neliminate discrimination against women. The situation has
\npersisted despite the country's 1984 ratification of the
\nConvention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination
\nAgainst Woman (CEDAW). CEDAW was established in 1979.<\/p>\n
Ratification of conventions, according to Abdul Hakim Garuda
\nNusantara of ELSAM, shows a country's willingness to divide its
\nauthority with the international community. It demonstrates a
\nwillingness to be dragged to the international tribunal if caught
\nviolating the convention.<\/p>\n
By ratifying international conventions, a country's
\ncredibility is put at stake. \"It should, therefore, seek to
\ncomply with the convention or face international scrutiny, a
\nconsequence no country can escape,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Ita said the media had failed to address substantial issues in
\nwomen's rights, such as abuse. \"Media coverage tends to brush
\nonly the tip of the iceberg..certain situations such as abuse
\nhave been neglected under patriarchal values,\" Ita said.<\/p>\n
Nursyahbani Katjasungkana explored the implementation of
\ninternational ordinances. She said these laws have failed to
\nprotect women from injustice.<\/p>\n
Domestic violence, most of which is unreported, ranked first
\nin women's rights violations. To make things worse, the existing
\nlegal mechanism failed to safeguard women from oppression and has
\nin fact silenced women.<\/p>\n
Cultural relativism is used to maintained the status quo.
\nWomen's rights rank below civil and political rights, she said.<\/p>\n
According to Ita, the state's violence against women is
\nevident in the deeply entrenched views of women's role as wife
\nand mother.<\/p>\n
Galuh Wandita said violence against women was not a social
\npathology but a by-product of the \"systemic violence\" which
\ntolerated disguised injustices against women.<\/p>\n
The state indirectly supports violence against women by
\ntolerating violations and neglecting punitive action against
\nviolators.<\/p>\n
Sterilization has been forced on women for the sake of curbing
\npopulation growth, Galuh charged.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's relatively high maternal mortality rate compared
\nto other Southeast Asian countries, according to Galuh, was a
\nclear indication of the problem because many deaths could have
\nbeen prevented.<\/p>\n
\"It is not just a matter of poverty,\" she added.<\/p>\n
The 1996 United Nations Development Program report cited
\nIndonesia's maternal mortality rate to be 650 deaths in a 100,000
\nlive births.<\/p>\n
Many international conventions need to be evaluated and
\nimproved so they effectively protect women's rights, the seminar
\nconcluded. (06)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/poor-definition-allows-violations-against-women-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}