Letter to Kofi Annan

We welcome your visit to Indonesia to learn firsthand about the efforts that the people of Indonesia are making to account for the atrocities experienced by the men and women of East Timor. The National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) was established in 1998, in the aftermath of the mass rapes of Chinese-Indonesian women during the May 1998 riots. Our mandate is to work for the elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women.

As you know, in situations of armed conflict, women experience violence, dislocation and other violations of their basic human rights. We have witnessed in Rwanda, the former Yugoslavia and other parts of the world, how rape, forced prostitution, sexual slavery and other forms of sexual violence are used as a tool of war. Now, we in Indonesia are learning with horror and agony of the massive and continued violence experienced by our sisters and their communities around Indonesia and in East Timor.

As part of the Commission of Inquiry into Human Rights Violations (KPP HAM) in East Timor, Komnas Perempuan and other women's organizations in East Timor and Indonesia have documented women's experience of systematic rape, sexual slavery, sexual harassment and domestic violence in East Timor and in the refugee camps of East Nusa Tenggara. East Timorese women were tortured and murdered as part of the mass killings and represent the majority of those who were dislocated, through direct force or fear.

Mr. Annan, in your discussions with decision makers here in Indonesia, we urge you to ensure that these women are not forgotten. We ask that you take every opportunity to push for the inclusion of violence against women in all attempts to further investigate and to prosecute the perpetrators of gross human rights violations. It is imperative that these women not be made invisible and that their voices are heard. This, of course, will also require gender-sensitive measures to protect and support victims/witnesses whose testimonies will be essential to bringing justice.

Komnas Perempuan, with its partners, are developing protocols for investigation and for the protection and support of victims/witnesses which will include the needs of victims of gender-based violence. For this purpose, we are building on the precedents of the international tribunals and the negotiations for the International Criminal Court. We hope you will provide leadership that will support these efforts and the overall goal of equal justice for women and men.

PROF. DR. SAPARINAH SADLI

Chair

KAMALA CHANDRAKIRANA

Secretary General

Komnas Perempuan, Jakarta