Female Activists Are Highly Vulnerable and Our Bodies Become Targets for Subjugation

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Female human rights activists are still considered highly vulnerable to various forms of violence, ranging from physical intimidation and threats to digital attacks such as doxing and account hacking.

In various field experiences, they often face layered risks while carrying out advocacy work, both in public spaces and digital realms.

One female activist, Dian Septi Trisnanti (42), highlighted that female activists face different risks compared to men.

Dian recalled various experiences she has encountered over more than two decades involved in social movements.

She has received calls from unknown numbers, been followed by strangers, and experienced verbal and physical harassment.

In some incidents, she also mentioned unwanted touches from officials or people around her.

Additionally, she has faced inappropriate invitations from certain parties as well as verbal harassment from officials.

“All those experiences show that female activists are highly vulnerable and our bodies become targets for subjugation, so that we give up, stop, if necessary our lives are destroyed so as not to disturb the power and repressive system that has existed all this time,” said Dian in an interview with Kompas.com on Friday (8/5/2026).

Not only in the real world, pressure also occurs in the digital space. Dian admitted to experiencing phone number hacking as well as doxing or the unauthorised dissemination of personal data.

According to her, this shows that threats to female activists can occur anywhere.

This situation has spurred demands for the state to provide protection.

She emphasised the need for the state to take a stronger role in protecting human rights defenders, especially women working in the field.

She admitted that over more than two decades of active advocacy, she has often faced various forms of threats and intimidation.