165 rape cases in C. Java

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)