Zohra dedicated to women's struggle

Zohra dedicated to women's struggle

Andi Hajramurni, The Jakarta Post, Makassar

The injustice and violence against women in Indonesia have aroused the spirit and awareness of Zohra Andi Baso to struggle for better conditions through her non-governmental organization.

Through it, she has been engaged in research, political education and advocacy in cases of violence against women.

To Zohra, who obtained a master's degree from the Bogor Institute of Agriculture, the subordinate position of women in a variety of fields must be opposed. "Women should be men's equals because they have the same rights and obligations. For a long time, women have become subordinate, instead of being given the role of decision-maker," she told The Jakarta Post during a national conference for women in Makassar recently.

According to the former Suara Pembaruan correspondent (from 1975 to 2001), the injustice and violence experienced by Indonesian women results from the culture and system established through generations, starting in the family.

The unwritten societal "obligation" that women must stay at home and men must come first in education, for instance, has left women with a lack of knowledge and thus deprived them of their rights.

Moreover, government policies have also left women in unfair positions and have tended to be gender-biased. Strategic posts like those of decision makers are always entrusted to men, leaving only subordinate positions to be filled by women.

It seems to be a given in this society that they are automatically inferior to their male counterparts, yet nearly all of the modern nations of the world have long since debunked and moved beyond that myth.

The basic problems being faced by women in the country, as a consequence of these conditions are poverty, low education and poor health, which also is the main cause of high mortality among mothers.

Even in areas of conflict (between male soldiers), most of the victims of violence have been women and children. To improve the plight of women here, a very long struggle is required not only to cease violence against them and give them fair treatment, but also to nurture their own awareness to fight for women's rights.

Originally from South Sulawesi, Zohra realizes all too well that it is a tough battle to free women in her region from injustice, because they remain trapped within a strong patriarchal culture that obliges females to obey and submit to males as family heads, combined with a gender-biased interpretation of the main religion (Islam) in the area.

However, Zohra, born in Pangkajene Islands regency in South Sulawesi 52 years ago, is optimistic and convinced that the fight for equal status will eventually bear fruit.

"This situation will change, because the violence and injustice plaguing women in Indonesia came from the prevailing system and sociocultural factors. It was never predestined. But alas, it's indeed a long journey," she indicated.

The spirit of opposition to injustice has been ingrained in her since childhood. Born into an upper-class family with a feudal culture, Zohra frequently noticed unfair treatment around her.

For example, her babysitter was never allowed to eat together with the family, servants had to sit on the floor, while family members were seated, and locals had to bow as they met her parents.

"I used to wonder why they could not dine and sit with us, as I loved them. But I had no way of changing the established practice handed down by our ancestors. Later, I was determined to do away with such treatment," added the oldest of three siblings who still lectures at a private college in Makassar.

When she studied the science of communications at Hasanuddin University (from 1974 to 1981), her awareness to fight inequality in the interests of women further crystallized, especially after she became a journalist and witnessed such instances as an everyday reality.

The prevalence of male-dominated student organizations also worried her and led to her start taking an active role in the university's student council and campus publication.

Zohra began her vigorous quest for justice for women to show that, as a female, she also had bright ideas and was capable of heading the campus press council. She participated in various demonstrations against unfair policies, and in 1975 entered journalism, another profession dominated by men. Other activities included the Zero Population Group and an organization working in the field of youth and family planning.

Her critical, vocal, firm and uncompromising attitude has come to typify her, meaning that she opposes without hesitation anything considered inappropriate. Her opposition has been clear through her action that she displayed as a student and in the early period of reformasi.

She made a controversial decision in opposing BJ Habibie's bid for the presidency in the 1999 election, due to his perceived failure in handling graft, violence and injustice, despite South Sulawesi's overwhelming support for one of its homegrown boys.

She consistently fought for the cause of women while on the board of the provincial chapter of the Consumer Institute in 1987, especially after her election as chairperson in 1994.

She then focused on the protection of female consumers as victims, besides conducting research on reproductive hygiene, which were, at that time, still being ignored. She also took up the cause to reform the state's family planning policies, with their tendency to pressure women, an issue that later became the subject of a book she published.

In 1995, Zohra and a number of Indonesian women activists attended a conference in Beijing. After that, they all agreed to campaign together for an end to all forms of violence against women.

Subsequently, she also took part in direct action, including demonstrations, in Makassar as well as Jakarta. The following year, Zohra, who had chosen to remain single, decided to set up a special organization that struggles for the rights of women.

Along with two other non-governmental organizations, she founded the Women's Observer Forum (FPMP), with the post of coordinator entrusted to her. Since then, Zohra has devoted most of her attention and thoughts to the forum's mission to terminate all kinds of violence and injustice inflicted on women.

Among its activities are advocacy for victims of violence and political education for women in villages, as was provided in the 1999 election period.

In addition to her commitment to the FPMP, Zohra is also active in Women's Solidarity as the chairperson of its national supervisory council, and the Indonesian Women's Coalition Presidium, also as chairperson (for the period 2004 to 2007).