165 rape cases in C. Java

SEMARANG: At least 165 rape cases took place in 29 regencies in the province of Central Java between January and early December this year, an activist has revealed.

Sri Nurherwati, coordinator of Central Java's branch of the Working Group for Gender Justice and Human Rights, told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday that the number did not include unreported cases.

"Two of the 165 victims are children under five years old," Sri said, adding that data was collected from five different publications, Suara Merdeka, Wawasan, Solo Pos, Radar Semarang, and Bernas.

"Most of the victims are between six and 18 years old, while most of the rapists are men of between 19 and 60 years old," she said.

The group is also concerned about domestic violence, Sri said, adding that there had been 134 cases, eight of which involved wife killing, within the same period of time in Central Java. "As many as 129 of the victims were women, including the eight slain."

The wife killings took place in the regencies of Cilacap, Wonosobo, Semarang, Purwodadi, Sukohardjo, Batang, Sragen and Magelang.

"Based on the data, we are urging the government to use international human rights instruments for the protection of women. We also call upon victims of violence and rape not to be deterred in demanding their rights," Sri said. (har/sur)