More domestic violence reported, but not tried
More domestic violence reported, but not tried
Dewi Santoso, Jakarta
Despite the rising confidence among women to report domestic
violence to law enforcers, many of them opt to seek an out-of-
court settlement, or drop the case, a state institution says.
The National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas
Perempuan) said on Tuesday that of the total 5,934 cases of
domestic violence it handled in 2003, only 162 were heard by the
court. The rest were either withdrawn by the victims, or rejected
due to insufficient evidence.
A women's organization devoted to the eradication of domestic
violence, Mitra Perempuan, confirmed the trend, saying that 70
percent of the 572 cases it recorded last year were settled out
of court.
"Our country's legal protection of victims of domestic
violence is minimal," Mitra Perempuan's executive director Rita
Serena Kolibonso told a national conference held in conjunction
with the non-governmental organization's ninth anniversary.
Rita said victims were often discouraged by their friends'
negative responses, and the way in which the police followed up
on their reports.
"Often, the victims, who are supposedly under protection, are
criticized and isolated by society. As a result, they choose not
to file reports so as to avoid the humiliation," Rita said.
A policewoman who spoke at the conference said that although
it was true that legal protection for victims was barely
adequate, sometimes, it was the victims themselves who suddenly
dropped their cases.
"I once handled a domestic violence case for two weeks.
Suddenly, the female victim dropped the case because her husband
fell ill and she was sorry for him," said the policewoman.
Speakers at the conference agreed that the bill on
anti-domestic-violence should be passed, to put an end to the
uncertainty.
Rita said the much-awaited bill would curb the incidence of
domestic violence as the police would be empowered to investigate
cases, even if they were not reported by the victims.
A survey conducted by Mitra Perempuan-affiliated Women's
Crisis Centers (WCC) in 13 cities reveals cases recorded between
April 2003 and March 2004, as: Jakarta (300 cases); Bandung (33
cases); Purwokerto (14 cases) and Surakarta (25 cases), both in
Central Java; Jombang, East Java, (53 cases); Banda Aceh (14
cases); Bengkulu (22 cases); Bandar Lampung (25 cases); Palembang
(10 cases); Pontianak (7 cases); Manado (10 cases); Makassar (30
cases) and Kupang (32 cases).
Cases of domestic violence against women in the country have
constantly increased from year to year, Mitra Perempuan claimed.
From 3,169 cases reported in 2001, the figure surged to 5,163
cases in 2002, and 5,934 in 2003.
Article 12 of the bill says that anyone who witnesses domestic
violence should report it to the police.