To expand access and health services for victims of violence in the islands, IPAS Indonesia created a new initiative in Maluku Province. The project is called ARUMBAE (Women Able and Empowered to be Free from Violence). ARUMBAE began in December 2024.
This project aims to create a service model for women and adolescent girls in Maluku Province that can be accessed in a timely and holistic manner. With such services, women are expected to be able to get their rights to be free from violence both gender-based and sexual.
In 2021, 382 cases of violence against women and children were recorded in 11 cities and districts in Maluku Province. The area with the highest rate of violence cases is Ambon City, with 189 cases.
Although healthcare intervention is a key issue for IPAS Indonesia Foundation, ARUMBAE is a different project compared to previous programs. This project is specifically designed to create a health service intervention with an archipelago context. This service model is important because Indonesia is an archipelago.
As noted by the Ministry of Health, equitable access to health in Indonesia is still a challenge, especially in the islands. This can be seen from infrastructure, access, the number of health workers and public awareness.
“The ARUMBAE project aims to bring access closer according to the cultural context and geographical conditions. That way, people, especially women and adolescent girls, get justice for their reproductive rights,” said Executive Director of IPAS Indonesia Foundation, dr. Marcia Soumokil, MPH.
To see how the condition of health access for victims of violence, the Yayasan Indonesia team conducted an initial assessment by visiting Ambon City and Central Maluku Regency in January 2025. Our team met with relevant agencies, community organizations and discussed with health workers.
“For eight days in Maluku, we met with civil society groups. Indeed, civil society groups need strengthening in assisting cases of violence,” said ARUMBAE Project Coordinator, Dian Novita.
Meanwhile, on the health service side, IPAS Indonesia Foundation’s Health System Strengthening Advisor, Eliza Permata Sari, said the governance of health service delivery also remains a challenge. “Hopefully we can map well the condition of violence services in Maluku to create a project implementation strategy,” Eliza added.
The ARUMBAE project will be implemented in Maluku Province and Central Maluku District until 2027. IPAS Indonesia Foundation will collaborate with the government as well as civil society groups to implement this project.
