PP 'Aisyiyah launches 116 free Legal Aid Posts across Indonesia

Posbakum service is part of ‘Aisyiyah’s efforts to prevent violence experienced by communities, especially women. In Yogyakarta, the Central Leadership of ’Aisyiyah officially launched 116 Legal Aid Posts (Posbakum) nationwide that the public can access for free, as part of a humanitarian mission and to commemorate the organisation’s 109th anniversary. ’We are relaunching as a form of humanitarian service of the PP ’Aisyiyah to women who have legal problems through Posbakum,’ said Salmah Orbayinah, Chairwoman of the PP ‘Aisyiyah, in Yogyakarta, on Tuesday (19/5). According to her, the Posbakum service is part of ’Aisyiyah’s efforts to prevent violence experienced by the public, especially women. ’The service is free of charge,’ Salmah said. Through the Posbakum programme, Salmah continued, ‘Aisyiyah strengthens its mission to build an Indonesian society that is just, peaceful, and civilised, especially for women, children, and vulnerable groups including people with disabilities. ’Dakwah’ is not only understood as normative teachings, but practical actions in addressing poverty, ignorance, social inequality, violence, and building a peaceful and just life,’ she said. She explained that the Posbakum service aims to promote legal awareness, strengthen paralegals in the community, and provide legal assistance for victims of violence. ‘Realised through legal protection that is just, accessible, and protects vulnerable groups,’ she said. This programme, Salmah continued, is also a reinforcement of legal reform and human rights protection (HAM) included in national development policies to strengthen legal aid services at the village and sub-district levels. Meanwhile, Muhammadiyah Central Leadership Haedar Nashir added that since its inception, ‘Aisyiyah has existed to fight two major obstacles for women, namely conservative religious interpretations and a culture that places women only in the domestic sphere. ’Today is the 109th anniversary of ’Aisyiyah as the first modern Islamic women’s organisation in Indonesia that breaks the view of religion that is conservative and hinders women from being and playing a role in the public space,’ Haedar said. According to him, ‘Aisyiyah has also become a breaker of a culture that does not want women to have a public role and only leans towards domestic affairs. ’Aisyiyah is not only a movement of thought, but a grounded movement that creates Froebel as the cradle of kindergarten,’ he said.