Feminists sound alarm on evil of domestic violence

Feminists sound alarm on evil of domestic violence

JAKARTA (JP): Feminists have called on women to be on the
alert for domestic violence against them in the light of the
continued crisis next year. Among cases of violence reported to
the crisis center Mitra Perempuan this year, most were
perpetrated by the victims' husbands.

Mitra Perempuan told a year ender press conference here on
Monday that it has received reports of 104 new cases of abuse
towards women in Greater Jakarta this year, 97 of which were
considered to be domestic violence which varied from sexual to
verbal abuse.

But the higher figure of abuse cases reported could also
reflect more willingness to report, executive director Rita
Serena Kolibonso said.

The number of abuse cases had increased compared to last year.
But while last year most victims were housewives, this year
victims comprised 39.7 percent housewives and 35.7 percent
private employees.

The data excluded the report of massive sexual abuse in the
mid-May riots. "We did not mention it because such data has been
provided by the Volunteer Team for Humanity," Rita said.

The team had reported that 168 women were sexually abused in
riots that rocked Greater Jakarta, Medan, Palembang, Solo and
Surabaya between May and July. The government has confirmed
findings of its Joint Fact-finding team, that 76 women were
violated in the Jakarta riots.

Of the new cases received this year, Rita said most victims
were married women (70.4 percent).

Victims of violence also came from various religious, social,
economic, educational, age, racial and ethnic backgrounds, she
added.

The violence took the form of physical, verbal, and
psychological pressures, domestic quarrels and rapes. Indonesian
law does not recognize rape by husbands. In many cases there was
a combination of at least two or three types of violence, Rita
said.

Rita said further that such abuse was mostly perpetrated by
people close to the victim -- husbands, brothers, boyfriends or
former spouses for various reasons including economic or
psychological pressure.

Rita said economic difficulties "give a husband justification
to pick on or hit his wife."

Mitra Perempuan, set up in 1995 by the Foundation for
Elimination of Violence Against Women, also recorded that only
15.3 percent of victims went to report the abuse to the police.

"Most of the victims (67.3 percent) went to various crisis
centers which they thought were more trustworthy," she said.

Mitra Perempuan, among the country's first crisis centers for
women, called for a better judicial system to protect women
against violence.

"If the police, for instance, maintain their current approach
which demands physical evidence in handling violence against
women, more and more women victims will decline to report," Rita
said.

Criminologist Purnianti, chairwoman of the group's board of
patrons, said that the lack of education and training within the
family has been among reasons that women are prone to become
victims of violence.

The lack of education also led women to become actors of
violence. Purnianti cited "the use of physical force by mothers
in enforcing 'discipline' among their children."

"This is a terrible thing to do as their children will pass on
the violent trait to the next generation, at least to their
social environment," Purnianti said.

In a bid to create a better understanding and education of
women rights, she said, the organization was working with the
Ministry of Women's Affairs to hold a meeting on a national
action plan on violence towards women.

"We are planning to establish more crisis centers in several
provinces to help troubled women," she said.

I. Sandyawan Sumardi, director of the Jakarta Social Institute
(ISJ), said in a year-end statement that human rights abuses were
still rampant across the country. Sandyawan was active in the
Volunteer Team for Humanity and became a member of the Joint
Fact-finding team gathering facts on the May riots.

He cited several human rights abuses this year such as the
abduction of pro-democracy activists between January and April
and the shooting of students such as in Solo and Jakarta in May.

The institute urged a national reconciliation involving
Abdurrahman Wahid, Amien Rais, Megawati Soekarnoputri and Sultan
Hamengkubuwono X.

"The government has three months to show concrete action.
Otherwise, there will be strong reasons for the people to
conclude that the government does not have true political and
moral will to solve this prolonged crisis," he added. (edt)