IBRAHIM ISA FOCUS On
THE INTERNATIONAL
WOMEN'S DAY
(IWD)
ON
THE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY (IWD)
INDONESIA – AT LEAST 1,032 CASES OF SEXUAL ABUSE
AGAINST
CHILDREN
AND WOMEN (JANUARY-JUNE) THIS YEAR ALONE
* * *
International
Women's Day is an opportunity for the world to celebrate women
and
their achievements.
The first Women's Day was held in 1909 in the United States. In
1911, International Women's Day (IWD) was marked for the first
time
in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland.International Women's Day is now celebrated each year on 8 March in countries across the globe.
1909 The first National
Woman's Day was observed in the United States on 28
February. The Socialist Party of America designated this day
in honour of the 1908 garment workers' strike in New York,
where women protested against working conditions.
1910 The Socialist
International, meeting in Copenhagen, established a Women's
Day, international in character, to honour the movement for
women's rights and to build support for achieving universal
suffrage for women. The proposal was greeted with unanimous
approval by the conference of over 100 women from 17
countries, which included the first three women elected to
the Finnish Parliament. No fixed date was selected for the
observance.
Since those
early years, International Women's Day has assumed a new
global dimension for women in developed and developing
countries alike. The growing international women's movement,
which has been strengthened by four global United Nations
women's conferences, has helped make the commemoration a
rallying point to build support for women's rights and
participation in the political and economic arenas.
Increasingly, International Women's Day is a time to reflect
on progress made, to call for change and to celebrate acts of
courage and determination by ordinary women who have played an
extraordinary role in the history of their countries and
communities.
The UN and Gender EqualityThe Charter of the United Nations, signed in 1945, was the first international agreement to affirm the principle of equality between women and men. Since then, the UN has helped create a historic legacy of internationally-agreed strategies, standards, programmes and goals to advance the status of women worldwide.
Over the
years, the UN and its technical agencies have promoted the
participation of women as equal partners with men in achieving
sustainable development, peace, security, and full respect for
human rights. The empowerment of women continues to be a
central feature of the UN's efforts to
address
social, economic and political challenges across the globe.
In 1975, during International Women's Year, the United Nations began celebrating International Women's Day on 8 March. Two years later, in December 1977, the General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming a United Nations Day for Women's Rights and International Peace to be observed on any day of the year by Member States, in accordance with their historical and national traditions. In adopting its resolution, the General Assembly recognized the role of women in peace efforts and development and urged an end to discrimination and an increase of support for women's full and equal participation.
International Women's Day first emerged from the activities of labour movements at the turn of the twentieth century in North America and across Europe (BBC & UN )
Women’s Empowerment Minister Linda Gumelar criticized for failing to protect women and children
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | National |
Sun, July 21 2013, 1:38 PM
A rights expert has criticized Women’s Empowerment Minister
Linda Gumelar as a so-called icon in the fight against abuse
against
women and children “After her appointment as an icon, she’s barely made any progress and it’s truly disappointing,” National Commission for Child Protection chairman Arist Merdeka Sirait said on Sunday as quoted by
Tribunnews.com.
He said the commission had recorded at least 1,032 cases of sexual abuse against children from January to June throughout the country this year alone.
The commission, he said, felt it may be wise to replace Linda in the role with someone more fitting for the job, such as First Lady Ani Yudhoyono.He said Ani’s role as first lady put her in a position to reduce the incidence of violence against women and children in the country.
“International Children’s Day on July 23 could be the best time to introduce Bu Ani as the next icon to fight violence against women and children,” he said.(hrl/dic)
No
heaven
for women, children in Bali Agnes
Winarti, Bali Daily ---- Although known as a paradise
island,
Bali has yet to be a paradise for Balinese women and children.
Over
the years, the number of domestic abuse cases toward Balinese
women
remains high, while cases of sexual violence toward children have
soared at an even higher rate.
As of September last year, the Bali branch of the Community Service Center for the Protection of Women and Children (P2TP2A Bali), which is run under the auspices of the Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Ministry, found a total of 472 domestic violence and sexual abuse cases toward women and children across the island. The figure comprised 67 cases reported to Denpasar Police; 73 in Badung; 22 in Gianyar; 15 in Klungkung; 19 in Karangasem; 7 in Bangli; 73 in Buleleng; 45 in Jembrana; 14 in Tabanan; 66 reported to Bali Police; and 71 reports made at the P2TP2A Bali office.
“The data is not yet complete, as there more cases were reported in the last three months of 2012 that have not been compiled,” Endang Widiati, head of the P2TP2A Bali told The Jakarta Post.
In the previous year, as many as 782 cases of violence toward women and children were recorded in Bali. Of this figure, an overall total of 253 cases of sexual offenses to women and children, including 190 cases of domestic violence, were recorded in the island’s capital city, Denpasar.
Secretary of the Bali chapter of the Women’s Legal Aid Foundation (LBH Apik), Luh Putu Anggraeni, regretted that of the 190 domestic violence cases, only four were brought to court. “Most victims revoke their recourse to criminal proceedings, choosing divorce instead to put an end to their domestic misery,” said Anggraeni.
“Divorce is not a deterrent effect, however, to abusive husbands as they will likely visit their abusive behavior on other women if they remarry. Such cases of domestic violence requires mediation between the wife and husband to prevent a reoccurrence in the future,” she said. Last year, LBH Apik Bali brought only 12 cases of domestic violence and 16 cases of child sexual abuse to Denpasar District Court.
“These women, who were victims of domestic abuse, don’t usually receive much support from their families and relatives to file lawsuits against their husbands,” said Anggraeni.
“Regretably, the few wives who persist with their lawsuits, often have to endure extremely long trial processes,” said Anggraeni, citing one example of a domestic violence case, in which a husband had been proved guilty of physically abusing his wife.
When asked whether Balinese traditional norms regarded violence and infidelity by married men as common and acceptable, Anggraeni replied: “Very much so. The patrilineal family system and the caste system are both obeyed and glorified in Balinese families.” Thus, she underlined the need to raise awareness among Balinese people that domestic offenses were unacceptable.
Law No. 23/2004 on the elimination of domestic violence stipulates that abusive husbands found guilty in court face a maximum five years’ imprisonment or a maximum Rp 15 million fine. Meanwhile, according to Law No. 23/2002 on child protection, those convicted of child rape or child molestation may face between three and 15 years in prison or a fine of between Rp 60 million and Rp 300 million.
As of September last year, the Bali branch of the Community Service Center for the Protection of Women and Children (P2TP2A Bali), which is run under the auspices of the Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Ministry, found a total of 472 domestic violence and sexual abuse cases toward women and children across the island. The figure comprised 67 cases reported to Denpasar Police; 73 in Badung; 22 in Gianyar; 15 in Klungkung; 19 in Karangasem; 7 in Bangli; 73 in Buleleng; 45 in Jembrana; 14 in Tabanan; 66 reported to Bali Police; and 71 reports made at the P2TP2A Bali office.
“The data is not yet complete, as there more cases were reported in the last three months of 2012 that have not been compiled,” Endang Widiati, head of the P2TP2A Bali told The Jakarta Post.
In the previous year, as many as 782 cases of violence toward women and children were recorded in Bali. Of this figure, an overall total of 253 cases of sexual offenses to women and children, including 190 cases of domestic violence, were recorded in the island’s capital city, Denpasar.
Secretary of the Bali chapter of the Women’s Legal Aid Foundation (LBH Apik), Luh Putu Anggraeni, regretted that of the 190 domestic violence cases, only four were brought to court. “Most victims revoke their recourse to criminal proceedings, choosing divorce instead to put an end to their domestic misery,” said Anggraeni.
“Divorce is not a deterrent effect, however, to abusive husbands as they will likely visit their abusive behavior on other women if they remarry. Such cases of domestic violence requires mediation between the wife and husband to prevent a reoccurrence in the future,” she said. Last year, LBH Apik Bali brought only 12 cases of domestic violence and 16 cases of child sexual abuse to Denpasar District Court.
“These women, who were victims of domestic abuse, don’t usually receive much support from their families and relatives to file lawsuits against their husbands,” said Anggraeni.
“Regretably, the few wives who persist with their lawsuits, often have to endure extremely long trial processes,” said Anggraeni, citing one example of a domestic violence case, in which a husband had been proved guilty of physically abusing his wife.
When asked whether Balinese traditional norms regarded violence and infidelity by married men as common and acceptable, Anggraeni replied: “Very much so. The patrilineal family system and the caste system are both obeyed and glorified in Balinese families.” Thus, she underlined the need to raise awareness among Balinese people that domestic offenses were unacceptable.
Law No. 23/2004 on the elimination of domestic violence stipulates that abusive husbands found guilty in court face a maximum five years’ imprisonment or a maximum Rp 15 million fine. Meanwhile, according to Law No. 23/2002 on child protection, those convicted of child rape or child molestation may face between three and 15 years in prison or a fine of between Rp 60 million and Rp 300 million.
2010 Bleak for Balinese Women, Children
Luh De Suriyani, The Jakarta Post,
Denpasar | Bali | Wed, December 22 2010, 9:16 AM
Hundreds of women activists urged local authorities to protect
women and children in Bali as the year saw an increase in the
number
of incidents of violence against them.The women commemorated National Mother’s Day, which falls today (Dec.22), at the Bali Legislative Council building.
Spreading a large banner reading “I Love You, Yes We Can,” the activists said it was time for all stakeholders in Balinese society to end violence against women and children.
Luh Putu Anggraeni from the Mitra Kasih Foundation said there should be clear regulations to protect women and children.
Participating organizations included Bali Sruti, the Mitra Kasih Foundation, the Bali Legal Aid Institute and the Bali Police.
The Bali Police said 54 percent of the reports it received between 2007 and 2010 were about domestic violence.
The police also reported 125 cases of violence against children in 2010, compared to 122 cases the previous year. These included child rape (40 percent), physical abuse and child molestation.
Bali councilor Ni Made Sumiati said it was regrettable that only 9 percent of the council seats were occupied by women. “Women councilors tend to pay closer attention to women’s and children’s issues. We will soon issue a bylaw to protect women and children,” she said.
The role of the woman in patriarchal Balinese society has traditionally been very weak.
Women become part of their husbands’ families when they get married. In the past, a Balinese woman would not be entitled to inherit her husband’s property or take custody of their children.
Udayana University customary law professor I Wayan Windia confirmed that the centuries-old tradition was being revised through the issuance of new laws to protect women’s rights both in their families and husbands’ families.
The Grand Council of Customary Villages (MUDP), a powerful body in Balinese society, made a gigantic breakthrough in the island’s patriarchal customary laws by openly acknowledging the rights of women to inherit family property, their rights to custody of their children and their rights to obtain marital assets.
These decisions were announced during the recent meeting of the MUDP, which also discussed and revised outdated customary laws.
For hundreds of years, Balinese Hindu society adopted customary laws, which placed male heirs as guardians of their families’ assets. Under these laws, only male children inherited their parents’ tangible and intangible assets.
Traditionally, the oldest son became the patriarch of the family, overseeing everything including rituals and social affairs. Younger sons had reduced social and family responsibilities.
Daughters were not entitled to any of the families’ assets or the right to voice their aspirations. Balinese wives were also denied her husbands’ assets and custody of their children when their husbands died or if they were divorced.
In both family and society, Balinese women had to accept any decisions made by men.
In reality, very few Balinese recognize the new rules.
Women and universal health care
Rosalia Sciortino, Jakarta | Opinion |
Sat, March 08 2014, 9:16 AM
The Indonesian government started 2014 with the much-hailed
rollout of its national health insurance (JKN) and the promise
that
by 2019, all the country’s 250 million people will be covered by
universal health care (UHC). Concerns are rife about the complexity of implementing such a large insurance scheme and sustaining it over time, but few would dispute its lofty goals.
If successful, JKN could significantly enhance people’s welfare and social protection. Costs will no longer be a barrier to health care or be a cause of impoverishment, with the gap in treatment for privileged and less privileged groups expected to narrow.
Greater fairness in society may not be too far-fetched, UNC having been proved to be an effective redistribution mechanism in many other countries.
Among those who have a stake in a well-functioning UHC program are women. They are the majority of the population, they are generally in more underprivileged positions, their health needs are many and they are also held responsible for the health of their children and family.
They are therefore highly dependent on health systems and are most affected by income-related barriers and inequities that reduce their access to health care.
UHC schemes that address these conditions can have great impact on women’s health. Quick, Jay and Langer conclude in a recent article that “UHC has proven a powerful driver of women’s health in low- and middle-income countries, including Afghanistan, Mexico, Rwanda and Thailand.”
Indonesia clearly falls among the countries where women’s health is in dire need of improvement and where UHC could make a difference if properly designed and implemented. Irrespective of the recent controversy on whether maternal mortality has increased or stagnated, it is clear that the 2012 Indonesia Demographic and Health Survey, which reported a mortality rate of 359 deaths per 100,000 live births, is high by all standards.
While the use of midwives’ services has increased in recent years, for many women quality maternal health services are not available, if not at significant financial cost. Unmet needs for effective contraceptives remain great and the occurrence of unsafe abortions is too sensitive to be dealt with.
Breast, ovarian and cervical cancer is growing, but prevention, screening and treatment services are lacking or are unaffordable. The feminization of the AIDS epidemic is ongoing, but still, HIV testing is not provided as part of government-subsidized antenatal services.
In view of the potential gains, it seems surprising that women’s voices have not been heard in public discussions leading to the launching of JKN and continue to be missed in this early phase of implementation. Planning and socialization efforts do not specifically engage women and women’s groups and NGOs have devoted little attention to JKN, leaving the policy arena to health professionals, government officials and private lobbyists.
A review of the first two months of JKN has mainly focused on problems with payment to hospitals and complaints by patients who have encountered difficulties in accessing the promised services. As systems become more established, however, it may be time to pay more attention to JKN’s degree of gender-responsiveness as a crucial element in improving women’s health.
JKN includes a comprehensive package of sexual and reproductive health services. However, many questions remain on how comprehensive it is and how exactly it will be implemented. For instance, universal delivery care or Jampersal is now integrated into JKN so it is important for pregnant women to be aware and register as members to be able to access services.
As many parents are already finding out, newborns will not be covered if they are not registered first. Contraceptive services will also be provided under JKN.
The Social Security Management Agency (BPJS) that administers JKN will fund the provision of services and contraceptive methods will be procured and provided by the National Family Planning Agency (BKKBN).
How is this going to function in practice? Most importantly, how will women (and men) be sure that their choices will be respected and that the complete contraceptive spectrum from condom and pills to sterilization and vasectomy is chargeable (the recommended “cafeteria approach”) and not, for instance, only selected long-term contraceptives decided according to population control priorities?
In addition, will poor women continue to be “compelled” to use intrauterine devices (IUDs) or implants after delivery as was the case in Jampersal, even if it is not their choice and actually disregards their rights? For girls, what package will be available, considering the increasing number of early pregnancies in the 15-19 age group?
UHC covers all types of cancer, but monitoring will be needed to ensure treatment is timely and of quality for affected women. Pap tests and mammography are foreseen in JKN, however their integration into basic health services will require an effort as they presently are not routinely offered. These and other issues require the attention of women and women’s groups in the framing of packages and their implementation, as well as in the monitoring of women’s health services.
For a start, they may demand sex-disaggregated data for JKN and the gathering of data on priority women’s health services, health outcomes and equity indicators.
All information is invaluable to assess and ensure JKN is women-friendly and that no quality of care disparities emerge for women, irrespective of whether they pay the insurance fee or is it paid for them by the government.
Only with the engagement of women, will JKN deliver on its potential to improve women’s health for all. The writer is a health and social development adviser and writer of Menuju Kesehatan Madani (Towards Civic Health, Gadjah Mada University, 2007).
Equality
and
justice in the courtroom
Navi Pillay,
Geneva
It is natural for a man to respond to a nagging female
partner
with violence.
Women’s demands for equal pay with men for equal skills are not justified, because women are likely to stop working to have children. A man who kills his wife may receive a more lenient sentence if she was unfaithful.”
These are judges’ comments — not from 100 years ago, but in the past 10 years. These cases were not weighed on their merits but swayed by deeply embedded notions that limit the rights and protection of women and girls. Justice was denied to the women in these cases, just as it is denied to many others, every day, in courtrooms around the world.
Despite decades of struggle for women’s right to equality, judicial processes worldwide are often shot through with harmful gender stereotypes, and this can amount to a denial of a woman’s right to justice by the very legal system that is supposed to protect fundamental human rights for everyone.
Gender stereotypes — widely held beliefs about women’s and men’s supposed characteristics and proper roles — are ubiquitous and create a deep vein of prejudice that affects the lives of women and men. Because of deeply entrenched discrimination against women, these beliefs have disproportionate consequences for women’s enjoyment of their human rights. Apparently benign stereotypes can be harmful.
For example, the idea that “women are more nurturing than men” reinforces the notion that women should do most domestic chores. This can also lead to violations of women’s human rights when translated into laws and practices that deprive them of educational and professional opportunities.
Discrimination in the courtroom — where we seek fair and impartial administration of the law — is particularly damaging. When a law is seriously discriminatory, the search for fairness is obviously profoundly compromised. Think of legislation that says women may not independently choose to travel, work outside the home, or undergo certain medical procedures without permission from male relatives.
But equally concerning, and far more widespread, is when judges are influenced by harmful gender stereotypes in their interpretation of the law and handing down of decisions. We often see this in cases related to gender-based violence, the family, equal work opportunities and women’s sexual and reproductive health. And when judges make decisions based on harmful gender stereotypes, for example taking a woman’s sexual life into account when deciding her legal rights and protection against rape or domestic violence, this is a human rights violation.
States should also take measures to eliminate wrongful gender stereotyping in all aspects of the criminal justice system, including investigation, prosecution, questioning and protection of victims and witnesses, and sentencing.
Explicit action is required to ensure that government officials, especially those working in the justice system, do not deliver decisions based on harmful stereotypes and undermine the human rights of women and girls. Rather, officials should be identifying and challenging such negative beliefs, to help create environments that more fully respect the human rights of women and girls and build a culture of equality.
If we are serious about achieving gender equality now, well into the 21st Century, we must devote more energy to dismantling prejudicial presumptions about women and men. We must stop perpetuating misguided ideas of what women should or should not be or do, based solely on the fact of being female. Instead, we must see them for who they are — unique human beings in all their diversity.
This is the demand of equality, which is the foundation of human rights law. My office will be devoting considerable attention to providing more robust guidance in this area. It is my sincere hope that work on this critical issue will begin in the place that most symbolises justice: the courtroom.
The writer is United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Women’s demands for equal pay with men for equal skills are not justified, because women are likely to stop working to have children. A man who kills his wife may receive a more lenient sentence if she was unfaithful.”
These are judges’ comments — not from 100 years ago, but in the past 10 years. These cases were not weighed on their merits but swayed by deeply embedded notions that limit the rights and protection of women and girls. Justice was denied to the women in these cases, just as it is denied to many others, every day, in courtrooms around the world.
Despite decades of struggle for women’s right to equality, judicial processes worldwide are often shot through with harmful gender stereotypes, and this can amount to a denial of a woman’s right to justice by the very legal system that is supposed to protect fundamental human rights for everyone.
Gender stereotypes — widely held beliefs about women’s and men’s supposed characteristics and proper roles — are ubiquitous and create a deep vein of prejudice that affects the lives of women and men. Because of deeply entrenched discrimination against women, these beliefs have disproportionate consequences for women’s enjoyment of their human rights. Apparently benign stereotypes can be harmful.
For example, the idea that “women are more nurturing than men” reinforces the notion that women should do most domestic chores. This can also lead to violations of women’s human rights when translated into laws and practices that deprive them of educational and professional opportunities.
Discrimination in the courtroom — where we seek fair and impartial administration of the law — is particularly damaging. When a law is seriously discriminatory, the search for fairness is obviously profoundly compromised. Think of legislation that says women may not independently choose to travel, work outside the home, or undergo certain medical procedures without permission from male relatives.
But equally concerning, and far more widespread, is when judges are influenced by harmful gender stereotypes in their interpretation of the law and handing down of decisions. We often see this in cases related to gender-based violence, the family, equal work opportunities and women’s sexual and reproductive health. And when judges make decisions based on harmful gender stereotypes, for example taking a woman’s sexual life into account when deciding her legal rights and protection against rape or domestic violence, this is a human rights violation.
States should also take measures to eliminate wrongful gender stereotyping in all aspects of the criminal justice system, including investigation, prosecution, questioning and protection of victims and witnesses, and sentencing.
Explicit action is required to ensure that government officials, especially those working in the justice system, do not deliver decisions based on harmful stereotypes and undermine the human rights of women and girls. Rather, officials should be identifying and challenging such negative beliefs, to help create environments that more fully respect the human rights of women and girls and build a culture of equality.
If we are serious about achieving gender equality now, well into the 21st Century, we must devote more energy to dismantling prejudicial presumptions about women and men. We must stop perpetuating misguided ideas of what women should or should not be or do, based solely on the fact of being female. Instead, we must see them for who they are — unique human beings in all their diversity.
This is the demand of equality, which is the foundation of human rights law. My office will be devoting considerable attention to providing more robust guidance in this area. It is my sincere hope that work on this critical issue will begin in the place that most symbolises justice: the courtroom.
The writer is United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Women and universal health care
Rosalia Sciortino, Jakarta | Opinion |
Sat, March 08 2014, 9:16 AM
The Indonesian government started 2014 with the much-hailed
rollout of its national health insurance (JKN) and the promise
that
by 2019, all the country’s 250 million people will be covered by
universal health care (UHC). Concerns are rife about the complexity of implementing such a large insurance scheme and sustaining it over time, but few would dispute its lofty goals.
If successful, JKN could significantly enhance people’s welfare and social protection. Costs will no longer be a barrier to health care or be a cause of impoverishment, with the gap in treatment for privileged and less privileged groups expected to narrow.
Greater fairness in society may not be too far-fetched, UNC having been proved to be an effective redistribution mechanism in many other countries.
Among those who have a stake in a well-functioning UHC program are women. They are the majority of the population, they are generally in more underprivileged positions, their health needs are many and they are also held responsible for the health of their children and family.
They are therefore highly dependent on health systems and are most affected by income-related barriers and inequities that reduce their access to health care.
UHC schemes that address these conditions can have great impact on women’s health. Quick, Jay and Langer conclude in a recent article that “UHC has proven a powerful driver of women’s health in low- and middle-income countries, including Afghanistan, Mexico, Rwanda and Thailand.”
Indonesia clearly falls among the countries where women’s health is in dire need of improvement and where UHC could make a difference if properly designed and implemented. Irrespective of the recent controversy on whether maternal mortality has increased or stagnated, it is clear that the 2012 Indonesia Demographic and Health Survey, which reported a mortality rate of 359 deaths per 100,000 live births, is high by all standards.
While the use of midwives’ services has increased in recent years, for many women quality maternal health services are not available, if not at significant financial cost. Unmet needs for effective contraceptives remain great and the occurrence of unsafe abortions is too sensitive to be dealt with.
Breast, ovarian and cervical cancer is growing, but prevention, screening and treatment services are lacking or are unaffordable. The feminization of the AIDS epidemic is ongoing, but still, HIV testing is not provided as part of government-subsidized antenatal services.
In view of the potential gains, it seems surprising that women’s voices have not been heard in public discussions leading to the launching of JKN and continue to be missed in this early phase of implementation.
Planning and socialization efforts do not specifically engage women and women’s groups and NGOs have devoted little attention to JKN, leaving the policy arena to health professionals, government officials and private lobbyists.
A review of the first two months of JKN has mainly focused on problems with payment to hospitals and complaints by patients who have encountered difficulties in accessing the promised services. As systems become more established, however, it may be time to pay more attention to JKN’s degree of gender-responsiveness as a crucial element in improving women’s health.
JKN includes a comprehensive package of sexual and reproductive health services. However, many questions remain on how comprehensive it is and how exactly it will be implemented. For instance, universal delivery care or Jampersal is now integrated into JKN so it is important for pregnant women to be aware and register as members to be able to access services.
As many parents are already finding out, newborns will not be covered if they are not registered first. Contraceptive services will also be provided under JKN.
The Social Security Management Agency (BPJS) that administers JKN will fund the provision of services and contraceptive methods will be procured and provided by the National Family Planning Agency (BKKBN).
How is this going to function in practice? Most importantly, how will women (and men) be sure that their choices will be respected and that the complete contraceptive spectrum from condom and pills to sterilization and vasectomy is chargeable (the recommended “cafeteria approach”) and not, for instance, only selected long-term contraceptives decided according to population control priorities?
In addition, will poor women continue to be “compelled” to use intrauterine devices (IUDs) or implants after delivery as was the case in Jampersal, even if it is not their choice and actually disregards their rights? For girls, what package will be available, considering the increasing number of early pregnancies in the 15-19 age group?
UHC covers all types of cancer, but monitoring will be needed to ensure treatment is timely and of quality for affected women. Pap tests and mammography are foreseen in JKN, however their integration into basic health services will require an effort as they presently are not routinely offered. These and other issues require the attention of women and women’s groups in the framing of packages and their implementation, as well as in the monitoring of women’s health services.
For a start, they may demand sex-disaggregated data for JKN and the gathering of data on priority women’s health services, health outcomes and equity indicators.
All information is invaluable to assess and ensure JKN is women-friendly and that no quality of care disparities emerge for women, irrespective of whether they pay the insurance fee or is it paid for them by the government.
Only with the engagement of women, will JKN deliver on its potential to improve women’s health for all. The writer is a health and social development adviser and writer of Menuju Kesehatan Madani (Towards Civic Health, Gadjah Mada University, 2007).
Gorontalo NGOs push budget literacy for female
Syamsul Huda M Suhari, The Jakarta
Post, Gorontalo | Archipelago | Wed, March 05 2014, 6:30 PM
The Gorontalo Women Institute for Research and Empowerment
(WIRE-G) and the Indonesian Forum for Budget Transparency (FITRA),
have provided capacity building training targeting improving
budget
literacy for 30 female legislative candidates from various
political
parties in Gorontalo.FITRA secretary general, Yenny Sucipto said that it anticipated these women legislative candidates, if elected, could make smart budget choices and ensure implementation with fidelity.
These candidates were also expected to pay attention to gender-equality issues so they could improve the lives of their women counterparts in the region.
She added that this year’s contesting political parties only adhered to the 30 percent quota for female representation in the legislature for popularity's sake and didn't provide substantial training to prepare the women candidates.(tjs/dic)
Gorontalo
– stronger protections for women and children
Syamsul Huda M Suhari, The Jakarta Post, Gorontalo |
The Gorontalo provincial office’s women empowerment bureau has
requested a draft on regulations for the protection of women and
children for consideration ahead of next year.“We have been discussing this with the local legislature and they have encouraged us to consider this draft. We hope to be able to implement this by next year,” Gorontalo’s women protection bureau head Asri Banteng said during a public discussion on Friday.
However, she didn’t elaborate further on the specific details.
She said the regulation was urgent given that in 2012 alone there had been 400 recorded cases of violence against women and children. In most of the cases the perpetrators were family members: fathers, brothers, uncles or even grandfathers.
Activist Rio Ismail, who was a part of the discussion, called on the government, public and media to treat women and children victims of violence with extra care as these victims were living with great trauma.
He said media overexposure would only cause them furthering suffering. (dic)
RI
told
to open new court to protect women, children Ina
Parlina, The Jakarta Post,
Activists say that the government must
establish a family court system to accommodate the rights
of women and children that have been ignored by existing religious courts.
Special family courts should be established at the district and appellate level to hear civil proceedings, such as divorce hearings, and criminal cases, such as domestic violence, according to a proposal from the Legal Aid Foundation of the Indonesian Women’s Association for Justice (LBH APIK) and the Network of Pro-Women’s National Legislation Program (JKP3).
Divorce cases are currently handled by district religious courts, while domestic violence cases are tried by district courts.
“Unlike the existing religious courts, the family court must be a ‘problem solving court’,” Ratna Batara Munti of the JKP3 recently said. “Not only just by delivering rulings, the court should also be able to give concrete solutions and deliver positive outcomes for all parties involved in the domestic disputes.”
Ratna said that patriarchal views still dominate judges on district religious courts in handling divorce cases, which she said had compromised the rights of the women and children.
Meanwhile, Nursyahbani Katjasungkana, national coordinator for the LBH APIK, said the 1974 Marriage Law, has also damaged the rights of women and children. “The law construes marriage based on a patriarchal view, instead of gender equality. The religious courts also adopt similar approach.”Ratna said that it was essential to open family courts to hear divorce and domestic violence case, given the predilection for the victims of domestic violence to avoid criminal court.
“Most of the victims, in this case, the wives, prefer to settle their problems through divorce hearings at the religious court, instead of filing their cases with a criminal court,” Ratna said. “They have no energy to go through two procedures. So, we later have some kind of impunity for the violence.”
According to the National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan), 95 percent of 110,468 cases of violence against wives in 2011 ended in divorce hearings in religious court.
Constitutional Court chief justice Akil Mochtar said he would support the proposal, as reforming family law was essential and the new courts would improve access to justice for women and children.“Our Constitution clearly guarantees the rights of women; therefore, all parties must support the efforts to uphold those rights,” Akil said.
Separately, Andi Syamsu Alam, the religious courts chief for the Supreme Court, said he would consider the plan.
“Just give us time, as we are still studying the plan. We are aware that there is a demand to combine the civil and criminal matters here,” Andi said.
of women and children that have been ignored by existing religious courts.
Special family courts should be established at the district and appellate level to hear civil proceedings, such as divorce hearings, and criminal cases, such as domestic violence, according to a proposal from the Legal Aid Foundation of the Indonesian Women’s Association for Justice (LBH APIK) and the Network of Pro-Women’s National Legislation Program (JKP3).
Divorce cases are currently handled by district religious courts, while domestic violence cases are tried by district courts.
“Unlike the existing religious courts, the family court must be a ‘problem solving court’,” Ratna Batara Munti of the JKP3 recently said. “Not only just by delivering rulings, the court should also be able to give concrete solutions and deliver positive outcomes for all parties involved in the domestic disputes.”
Ratna said that patriarchal views still dominate judges on district religious courts in handling divorce cases, which she said had compromised the rights of the women and children.
Meanwhile, Nursyahbani Katjasungkana, national coordinator for the LBH APIK, said the 1974 Marriage Law, has also damaged the rights of women and children. “The law construes marriage based on a patriarchal view, instead of gender equality. The religious courts also adopt similar approach.”Ratna said that it was essential to open family courts to hear divorce and domestic violence case, given the predilection for the victims of domestic violence to avoid criminal court.
“Most of the victims, in this case, the wives, prefer to settle their problems through divorce hearings at the religious court, instead of filing their cases with a criminal court,” Ratna said. “They have no energy to go through two procedures. So, we later have some kind of impunity for the violence.”
According to the National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan), 95 percent of 110,468 cases of violence against wives in 2011 ended in divorce hearings in religious court.
Constitutional Court chief justice Akil Mochtar said he would support the proposal, as reforming family law was essential and the new courts would improve access to justice for women and children.“Our Constitution clearly guarantees the rights of women; therefore, all parties must support the efforts to uphold those rights,” Akil said.
Separately, Andi Syamsu Alam, the religious courts chief for the Supreme Court, said he would consider the plan.
“Just give us time, as we are still studying the plan. We are aware that there is a demand to combine the civil and criminal matters here,” Andi said.
Gorontalo considers stronger protections for women and children
Syamsul Huda M Suhari, The Jakarta
Post, Gorontalo | Archipelago | Sat, December 07 2013, 4:38 PM
The Gorontalo provincial office’s women empowerment bureau has
requested a draft on regulations for the protection of women and
children for consideration ahead of next year.“We have been discussing this with the local legislature and they have encouraged us to consider this draft. We hope to be able to implement this by next year,” Gorontalo’s women protection bureau head Asri Banteng said during a public discussion on Friday.
However, she didn’t elaborate further on the specific details.
She said the regulation was urgent given that in 2012 alone there had been 400 recorded cases of violence against women and children. In most of the cases the perpetrators were family members: fathers, brothers, uncles or even grandfathers.
Activist Rio Ismail, who was a part of the discussion, called on the government, public and media to treat women and children victims of violence with extra care as these victims were living with great trauma.
Gender Equality
The Charter of the United Nations, signed in 1945, was the first international agreement to affirm the principle of equality between women and men. Since then, the UN has helped create a historic legacy of internationally-agreed strategies, standards, programmes and goals to advance the status of women worldwide.Over the years, the UN and its technical agencies have promoted the participation of women as equal partners with men in achieving sustainable development, peace, security, and full respect for human rights. The empowerment of women continues to be a central feature of the UN's efforts to address social, economic and political challenges across the globe.
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