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Sat, 18 Dec 1999

JP/Chain of crisis centers for abused women planned

Chain of crisis centers for abused women planned

JAKARTA (JP): The government will cooperate with women's organizations to establish a nationwide chain of crisis centers for abused women.

The first one is expected to be up and running by April 2000. State Minister of Women's Empowerment Khofifah Indar Parawansa said on Friday it would be set up within one of the state-owned hospitals, without detailing the exact location.

The center will emulate and improve on the current one-stop women's crisis centers in Malaysia which provide health, counseling and legal services for abused women.

"To build the crisis centers, my office has asked for cooperation from other parties such as the National Police, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of National Education and the Ministry of Religious Affairs," Khofifah told reporters.

In her vision, the centers would be staffed with people from various fields who can help women according to their needs.

She asserted the center was a realization of the zero tolerance policy against violence towards women declared on Nov. 24.

The establishment of the crisis centers across the country will be shared by three parties.

The government will set up centers in conflict prone areas such as Aceh.

The National Commission on Woman's Rights (Komnas Perempuan) will set up those in urban areas while the Association for the Development of Pesantren (traditional Islamic schools) and Society (PPPM) will set up the centers in rural areas.

Funds will be provided from the World Bank.

"I asked the World Bank whether they would like to grant the office an amount of money for the centers. So far I have received a positive response from them," the minister said.

A member of Komnas Perempuan, Irawati Harsono, said the crisis center would also provide shelter for women and their children. "The crisis center will focus on dealing with domestic battery," she said.

A group of feminists on Thursday renewed concern over domestic battery, saying that almost 70 percent of violence against women happens inside the home. (04)