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Page 2 of 4 Four phases in Indonesia’s Women’s Movement until today
As to the history of the women’s movement in Indonesia until today, Najamuddin Muhammad in Bisnis Indonesia writes that Indonesia has passed through four phases since Pre-Independence. These are firstly, the initial period prior to Independence when women fought for equal education for girls (this was the age of Kartini and her generation). The second phase came during the rule of Sukarno after 1945, when women voiced their demand to be actively involved in political decisions. The third phase came during the presidency of Soeharto when women demanded to be released from the stereotype role of having solely to become housewives. Women demanded to have access to and be active in public life. And the fourth phase developed during this age of Reform, whose themes are more liberal, demanding non-violence against women in public as well as in private life.
Although in the past decades Indonesia’s legislation had been strengthened to support the above demands, however, new realities have appeared, whereby women now find themselves marginalized in public life through capitalistic industrialism, where she finds herself marginalized in regard to her intrinsic rights as a human being. For, says Najamuddin Muhammad, through the migration of women from villages into towns new interactions and new values have emerged that affect public ethics and morality, as can be seen in the increased cases of sexual abuse and rape of factory workers, for example, and the involvement of women in narcotics, and other such cases.
Therefore, the emancipation of women and the essential goals that are mentioned in a number of the MDG’s are not new to Indonesia. The MDG’s however, renew the resolve of Indonesian women today, but more importantly of the government and political leaders in general, - regardless of gender - to continue to improve social and health conditions, especially of women and children, in line with global developments and values of the 21st. century.
Some Statistics on violence against Women in Indonesia
In this context, Chairperson of the National Commission for Women (Komnas Perempuan), Kemala Chandrakirana reported that violence against women in Indonesia during 2006 increased to 22,512 cases – up 2,121 cases, compared to 20,391 throughout 2005. Of these, 75% or 15,515 cases were violations against helpers, or maids in the homes, mostly found in Jakarta and Central Java. These numbers do not, however, adequately portray what is actually happening, since too many cases remain unreported , said Kemala. Nonetheless, women are now less fearful, since 61% of total cases, or 13,700 were reported by victims themselves. Most violators were found to be from the civil service, followed by the police or the military.
These data, said Kemala, were compiled from 258 institutions in 32 of Indonesia’s provinces, where each organization managed to handle only 40 out of every 95 cases, which is indeed still too limited.
On the above, Kemala commented that despite the fact that the Law on Violence against Women in the Home has been passed, but its enforcement is still far from adequate. The Religious Court (which deals with marriages and heritage), for example, still considers violence on women in the home as being outside its jurisdiction, although this court has already received a large number of cases (on violence against women) caused by economic and financial neglect by husbands. Additionally, the Courts also differ in the application of delivering proof between the new Law on Violence against Women, and the Criminal Code, where the former demands one submission of evidence, whilst the latter requires two. The District Courts, unfortunately, still adhere to the Criminal Code.
Meanwhile, following CEDAW Resolutions, other issues are raised by the Women’s Movement in Indonesia which include the adequate representation of women in national as well as local Parliaments, improved health care for mothers and babies at childbirth, better rights in marriage for women, and others.
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