'Stop violence against women migrant workers'<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of Women's Affairs Tutty Alawiyah
\nsaid on Monday that she regretted violence toward migrant
\nworkers, particularly women, and said it must be stopped.<\/p>\n
Minister of Justice Muladi also said reports of victimized
\nmigrants "had to be taken seriously".<\/p>\n
They were speaking after addressing a one-day seminar held by
\nthe Mitra Perempuan crisis center and the United Nations
\nPopulation Fund on overcoming violence against women.<\/p>\n
"I've heard terrible reports of sexual abuse or cases of
\ntorture (in countries hosting Indonesian female workers) ... It's
\npitiful and must be stopped," Tutty said.<\/p>\n
"I feel deeply concerned by (reports) of violence against
\nIndonesian migrant women, such as have occurred in Saudi Arabia,
\nSingapore and Malaysia," she said.<\/p>\n
"All parties should join in helping these women ... we want
\nour workers saved and we want to prevent the abuse of these
\nwomen," she added.<\/p>\n
In response to actions taken by the government, Tutty said her
\nministry had helped to coordinate psychological support and
\nphysical services for abused women.<\/p>\n
She cited the case of Imas binti Enan, 22, a worker who is now
\nbeing treated at a Jakarta hospital. TVRI reported that Imas, who
\nhails from Karawang, West Java, was scheduled to leave the
\nhospital on Tuesday, but doctors said depression may delay her
\nrelease.<\/p>\n
According to Imas, her employer in Saudi Arabia threw acid in
\nher face on Sept. 27 last year. Her employer is reportedly in
\njail for murdering his wife and one of his children, and for
\ntorturing his two other children and Imas.<\/p>\n
Muladi said his ministry contacted Indonesian embassies in
\ncountries where reports of abuse were revealed.<\/p>\n
"I urge the embassies to be active in protecting the workers,
\nand we have coordinated this matter with the Ministry of
\nManpower."<\/p>\n
"It is also necessary for labor supply companies to be
\ncarefully supervised. Workers also must be selective and the
\ncompanies must be responsible for their employees."<\/p>\n
Tutty said she had written letters to related agencies about
\nImas' case.<\/p>\n
During the seminar it was revealed that Tutty's ministry and
\nthe Mitra Perempuan crisis center were planning to work together
\nto expand services for victims of violence.<\/p>\n
"NGOs (nongovernmental organizations) have ability and
\nexperience in working with all levels of society. They have the
\ndata and information on cases of violence against women ...
\nthat's what we lack," Tutty said.<\/p>\n
Mitra Perempuan is one of a number of centers which treated
\nvictims of sexual assault from last year's May riots in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Muladi said during the seminar that women were prone to be
\nvictimized here because of the strong paternalistic culture.<\/p>\n
In cases such as marital rape or domestic violence, most women
\ndo not file reports because they do not realize that such acts
\nare wrong, he said.<\/p>\n
Muladi said that while other countries recognized marital
\nrape, this was not the case in Indonesia because women felt
\nobligated to serve their husbands.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's legal definition of rape excludes married couples.<\/p>\n
National Police Detective Corps Commander Maj. Gen. Da'i
\nBachtiar told the seminar that the National Police had a "women's
\ndesk" where female police officers handled reports of violence
\nagainst women.<\/p>\n
"It's not a perfect method but at least we have started to
\nmove in the right direction on the level of the National Police,"
\nhe said. (edt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/stop-violence-against-women-migrant-workers-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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