Campaign focuses on violence against women

The National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) has launched a 16-day campaign about ending violence against women, which is dedicated to the recently poisoned human rights campaigner Munir.

The campaign, which began on Nov. 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and will end on Friday, International Human Rights Day, has been marked a series of activities across the country.

The start of the campaign was marked with a ceremony to remember Munir by women activists, including Munir's wife, Suciwati, and a book launching at the commission's office on Jl. Latuharhari, Central Jakarta.

The Bandung-based Institute Perempuan (Women's Institute) also conducted a campaign, radio talk show and discussion on the elimination of violence against women.

In Semarang, Central Java, activists from several women's non- governmental organizations (NGO) took part in a hearing with the Central Java councillors and prosecutors on the dissemination of the new Domestic Violence Law on Nov. 29.

In Yogyakarta, Rifka Annisa Women Crisis Center held a seminar on "sexual violence against disabled women" on Nov. 25 and the dissemination of the Domestic Violence Law at Bantul and Gunung Kidul regencies on Nov. 30, and Dec. 7 respectively.

The Women's Crisis Center of Jombang, East Java held a talk show, live music and a writing contest with the theme "gender equality and violence against women."

The Humanitarian Volunteer Team of Maumere, East Nusa Tenggara, screened a film about domestic violence at seven parishes and theaters and held discussions.

Similar activities were conducted by the Women's Rights Forum of Batam, Riau, the Nurani Perempuan Women's Crisis Center in Padang, West Sumatra, the Women's Crisis Center in Palembang, South Sumatra, Cahaya Perempuan Women's Crisis Center in Bengkulu, the Bening Foundation in Samarinda, East Kalimantan, the Women's Empowerment Institute in Bone, South Sulawesi, and Swara Paranpuan in Manado, North Sulawesi, and the Women and Children's Protection Institute in Papua.--JP