'Stop violence against women migrant workers'

'Stop violence against women migrant workers'

JAKARTA (JP): State Minister of Women's Affairs Tutty Alawiyah
said on Monday that she regretted violence toward migrant
workers, particularly women, and said it must be stopped.

Minister of Justice Muladi also said reports of victimized
migrants "had to be taken seriously".

They were speaking after addressing a one-day seminar held by
the Mitra Perempuan crisis center and the United Nations
Population Fund on overcoming violence against women.

"I've heard terrible reports of sexual abuse or cases of
torture (in countries hosting Indonesian female workers) ... It's
pitiful and must be stopped," Tutty said.

"I feel deeply concerned by (reports) of violence against
Indonesian migrant women, such as have occurred in Saudi Arabia,
Singapore and Malaysia," she said.

"All parties should join in helping these women ... we want
our workers saved and we want to prevent the abuse of these
women," she added.

In response to actions taken by the government, Tutty said her
ministry had helped to coordinate psychological support and
physical services for abused women.

She cited the case of Imas binti Enan, 22, a worker who is now
being treated at a Jakarta hospital. TVRI reported that Imas, who
hails from Karawang, West Java, was scheduled to leave the
hospital on Tuesday, but doctors said depression may delay her
release.

According to Imas, her employer in Saudi Arabia threw acid in
her face on Sept. 27 last year. Her employer is reportedly in
jail for murdering his wife and one of his children, and for
torturing his two other children and Imas.

Muladi said his ministry contacted Indonesian embassies in
countries where reports of abuse were revealed.

"I urge the embassies to be active in protecting the workers,
and we have coordinated this matter with the Ministry of
Manpower."

"It is also necessary for labor supply companies to be
carefully supervised. Workers also must be selective and the
companies must be responsible for their employees."

Tutty said she had written letters to related agencies about
Imas' case.

During the seminar it was revealed that Tutty's ministry and
the Mitra Perempuan crisis center were planning to work together
to expand services for victims of violence.

"NGOs (nongovernmental organizations) have ability and
experience in working with all levels of society. They have the
data and information on cases of violence against women ...
that's what we lack," Tutty said.

Mitra Perempuan is one of a number of centers which treated
victims of sexual assault from last year's May riots in Jakarta.

Muladi said during the seminar that women were prone to be
victimized here because of the strong paternalistic culture.

In cases such as marital rape or domestic violence, most women
do not file reports because they do not realize that such acts
are wrong, he said.

Muladi said that while other countries recognized marital
rape, this was not the case in Indonesia because women felt
obligated to serve their husbands.

Indonesia's legal definition of rape excludes married couples.

National Police Detective Corps Commander Maj. Gen. Da'i
Bachtiar told the seminar that the National Police had a "women's
desk" where female police officers handled reports of violence
against women.

"It's not a perfect method but at least we have started to
move in the right direction on the level of the National Police,"
he said. (edt)