Ungaran – The Central Java Provincial Government invites all levels of society and stakeholders to unite in ending violence against women. This invitation was realized through the signing of a joint commitment in commemorating 16 Days Against Violence Against Women (HAKTP) at The Wujil Resort & Conventions, Ungaran, Semarang Regency, November 27, 2023. 16 HAKTP is a global campaign commemorated from 25 November to 10 December each year, to raise awareness and mobilize public support in efforts to eliminate sexual and gender-based violence.
After the signing of the joint commitment, the event continued with a talk show entitled “Commemorating 16 HAKTP: Implementation of the TPKS Law in Central Java Province”. Examining where the implementation of Law No. 12 of 2022 on the Crime of Sexual Violence (TPKS) is crucial to see how far victims and survivors of sexual violence get treatment, recovery and protection.
Ema Rachmawati, Assistant I for Government and People’s Welfare of Central Java Province, said that the TPKS Law is a special law because its formation originated from the experience of victims of sexual violence and their assistance. “This law is a substantive policy, meaning that everything promised in the law must be carried out by the government,” Ema said in her keynote speech on Monday, November 27, 2023. Even so, she added, not all levels of government understand its urgency. For example, there are still village heads who are unfamiliar with this law even though they have the potential to provide support to victims and survivors.
“Based on our data, violence that occurred in Semarang Regency in 2022 and 2023 has decreased, in 2022 there were 106 cases and in 2023 (until October) there were 87 cases,” explained Dewi Pramuningsih, Head of DP3AKB Semarang Regency. However, in Semarang, cases of violence against women and children in Semarang Regency are likened to an iceberg phenomenon because not all victims report.
He emphasized that Semarang Regency already has services that include health rehabilitation complaints, social rehabilitation, and legal aid that can be accessed free of charge. Even so, safe houses are still an obstacle in this service because they must work together with the Central Java Provincial Social Service. For this reason, coordination and collaboration are the main keys in maximizing the handling of cases of violence.
At the provincial level, Dewi Pramuningsih, Head of DP3AP2KB of Central Java Province, mentioned that several innovations have been made to prevent cases of violence against women and children by involving community components. In her presentation, Dewi stated, “Based on the data, most of the perpetrators are men. If men care about women and children, it is hoped that violence against women and children can be reduced”.
Kombes Pol.Dr.Sumy Hastry Purwanti Kabiddokkes Polda Central Java also explained that in terms of handling, cases of violence against women and children have been guaranteed by the state. According to him, this needs to be continuously monitored and guarded. The government’s intention to implement the TPKS Law needs to be encouraged so that services for handling violence against women and children can be more integrative.
The IPAS Indonesia, through program funding from the Government of Canada, sees this as an opportunity to encourage innovation in policy implementation in the form of modeling that suits the local context and the needs of victims and survivors. This initiative will be carried out in Semarang Regency, Surakarta City and Sukoharjo Regency in the next 3.5 years. “Hopefully this project can be brought to the national level to see how local governments make innovations to ensure the rights of their citizens are fulfilled because this is part of the right to comprehensive health services,” said Dr. Marcia Soumokil, Executive Director of the IPAS Indonesia Foundation.
The Canadian government supports this innovative program because the phenomenon of sexual violence in Canada and Indonesia has similarities. Among them are related to stigma and many people not talking about it due to social norms. Breaking the silence and starting to talk about it is a good start.
“Canada is committed to working with Indonesia to help end sexual violence, including by prioritizing women’s health and rights,” said Kevin Tokar Counsellor and Head of Development Cooperation at the Canadian Embassy to Indonesia.
