Women activists start anti-violence campaign<\/p>\n
Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The suspicious death of rights campaigner Munir and threats
\nagainst his widow, Suciwati, have inspired her along with dozens
\nof women's groups to declare war against all forms of violence.<\/p>\n
Suciwati, a mother of two, Tuti Koto, a mother of pro-
\ndemocratic activist Yani Afri, who has gone missing since 1998,
\nand Sumarsih, a mother of student activist Wawan, who was killed
\nby security troops during a rally against then-president B.J.
\nHabibie in 1998, will start on Thursday a 16-day campaign to
\nraise public support for an end to violence against women.<\/p>\n
The three women will share their experiences in defending
\ntheir right to a peaceful life.<\/p>\n
The campaign, called Activism Against Gender Violence, has
\nbeen prepared by the National Commission on Violence Against
\nWomen (Komnas Perempuan) in cooperation with 303 women's
\norganizations grouped in the Women's Crisis Center (WWC).<\/p>\n
\"We have decideed to start this 16-day-long campaign for a
\ngood reason. First, we want to dedicate the event to our fellow
\nactivist Munir for his commitment to fighting for women's
\nrights,\" Komnas Perempuan chair Kamala Chandrakirana said on
\nWednesday.<\/p>\n
The world would commemorate the International Day of
\nEradicating Violence Against Women on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Kamala said the lengthy campaign would also spotlight
\nimportant dates to come, including World HIV Day on Dec. 1, World
\nAntislavery Day on Dec. 2 and World Disabled Day on Dec. 3.<\/p>\n
The Day of Zero Tolerance Toward Violence Against Women also
\nfalls on Dec. 6 and World Human Rights Day starts later on Dec.
\n10.<\/p>\n
\"Violence against women must be stopped and the state is
\nobliged to provide advocacy and rehabilitation programs for
\nvictimized women,\" Kamala said.<\/p>\n
Through the campaign, the women's groups will remind the
\npublic that violence against women was equivalent to human rights
\nabuses. Violence happened not only in conflict-prone areas, but
\nalso in peaceful ones and was often perpetrated by relatives or
\nthose known to the victim, Kamala said.<\/p>\n
Events will run simultaneously in Makassar and Bone (South
\nSulawesi), Maumere (East Nusa Tenggara), Mataram (West Nusa
\nTenggara), Samarinda (East Kalimantan), Jombang (East Java),
\nPadang (West Sumatra), Batam (Riau), Semarang (Central Java),
\nBandung (West Java) and in major towns in Papua and Maluku.<\/p>\n
During the campaign, the commission would distribute books to
\nwomen living in conflict regions.<\/p>\n
A series of forums and film screenings about women and
\nviolence would also take place.<\/p>\n
Commission data shows reported violence against women has
\nincreased in recent years.<\/p>\n
In 2003, the number of cases increased to nearly 6,000 from
\nabout 5,163 in 2002. In 2001, there were about 3,000 cases
\nreported.<\/p>\n
The violence came in many forms, from intimidation and other
\npsychological torture to rape and murder, Kamala said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/women-activists-start-anti-violence-campaign-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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