Rights activists hail bill against domestic violence

Rights activists hail bill against domestic violence

Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Women's rights activists are hailing a decision from the House of
Representatives to draft a bill against domestic violence, saying
that the move was a welcome start to providing legal protection
for victims of violence in the home.

Dian Kartika Sari, the head of Public Policy of the Indonesian
Women's Coalition (KPI), said on Saturday that a special legal
umbrella was necessary to protect victims of domestic violence as
the current Criminal Code (KUHP) "did not have the spirit to help
them".

The Criminal Code states that testimony should be provided by
at least two witnesses, which would be difficult to establish in
cases of domestic violence, she said.

There is usually only a victim and her physical injuries,
which should be enough to be regarded as proof, she said.

Dian also said the Criminal Code did not specify punishment
for those convicted of assaulting their spouses or other family
members.

Furthermore, she said, many people consider domestic violence
to be a private matter, and this way of thinking had to be
changed with a new law, which stipulates that violence in the
home is a crime and a social problem.

"The facts show us that a law is sorely needed to encourage
victims to come forward and report cases of domestic violence.
The bill has a different spirit than the Criminal Code," Dian
told the Jakarta Post on Saturday.

The House used its initiative rights last week to draft the
bill prohibiting domestic violence, amid mounting pressure from
antiviolence activists, particularly women who said this type of
violence could destroy the life of a nation.

The bill defines domestic violence as any form of abuse
against women that inflicts physical, sexual or psychological
pain.

It also states that the police have to provide victims of
domestic violence with temporary protection for 24 hours after a
victim comes forward to report her case.

Further protection is given within seven days and/or the
length of time stipulated in a restraining order issued by a
court of law.

The restraining order should prohibit the offender from
entering the victim's house or temporary accommodation and
maintaining a minimum distance of at least 500 meters from the
victim.

Punishment for those found guilty of assaulting their spouse
or family member varies from fines to jail sentences.

Dian said women and children were often the victims of
domestic violence, and their protection had to be prioritized.

"However, the bill should not discriminate against other
victims of violence in the home, such as powerless husbands and
others," she said.

Asnifriyanti of the Legal Aid Institute (LBH) concurred.

She also said neighboring countries, such as Malaysia and the
Philippines, had passed laws against domestic violence, which
showed they had realized their responsibility in stopping violent
behavior in the home.

She said the House should make the bill one of its top
priorities for debate in the current session due to the
significant impact it could have on improving legal protection
for victims of domestic violence.

In Indonesia, there were 3,169 cases of violence against women
in 14 regions in 2001, of which 40 percent were committed by
spouses, close relatives or colleagues.