Participation in the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence

As reported on the kekerasan.kemenppa.go.id website, the cases of violence in Indonesia from January 1, 2024, until now have been recorded as 1,124 cases. West Java Province is one of the provinces with the highest number of recorded violence cases on the site, totaling 106 cases. Women and children are victims of the recorded acts of violence in West Java.

Efforts to prevent and respond to violence, especially Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in West Java, continue, including by women’s groups at the local level, including members of the Empowerment, Knowledge, and Transformative Action (JEKATA) women’s group in Purwakarta and Sukabumi Districts. Established with the support of JEKATA and under the management of the local government, the Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Complaint Post serves as a forum designed to offer protection and treatment to victims of violence, especially women and girls. The assistance offered encompasses aiding victims in filing formal complaints with authorities, providing psychosocial support, offering health services, and ensuring legal protection.

“In handling violence cases, JEKATA members oversee by providing protection to victims through the provision of safe houses and assisting the recovery of victims with guidance to the Integrated Service Center for the Empowerment of Women and Child Protection (P2TP2A),” said Widiani, one of the JEKATA members in Purwakarta District, during the Complaint Post socialization activity on 10 December in her village. The village-to-village socialization activity is carried out as a form of JEKATA’s support for the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (16 Days of Activism) campaign, which took place from November to December 2023.

The Complaint Post socialization was carried out by 130 JEKATA members in Purwakarta District and Sukabumi District. Adopting the theme “Know the Law, Community Protects Victims, Women Care,” village-to-village education was conducted to prevent acts of violence, reaching hundreds of residents in 7 villages in Sukabumi District, namely Babakansari Village, Pondok Kaso Village, Bojongpari Village, Lebaksari Village, Parakansalak Village, Bojongasih Village, and Bojonglongok Village in Sukabumi District, as well as 11 villages in Purwakarta District, namely Cimahi Village, Cikumpay Village, Cilandak Village, Kertamukti Village, Cijunti Village, Karangmukti Village, Cikopo Village, Cibodas Village, Campakasari Village, Balikarah Village, and Cijaya Village.

Nuryani, one of the senior members of JEKATA in Purwakarta District, also participated in the socialization activities. In addition to being a member, Nuryani, who is also an influential female figure in her village, conveyed that JEKATA’s participation in the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (16 Days of Activism) campaign is an important moment to collectively provide understanding even to the family level in the community. “By participating in the 16 Days of Activism campaign, the community will gain a better understanding of JEKATA’s support through the Complaint Post. Our goal is to play a part in reducing the number of violent cases in the village,” she stated.

Founded in 2022 by the Yayasan CARE Peduli and bolstered by diverse training initiatives, such as paralegal training, JEKATA is experiencing rapid growth. YCP’s efforts to prevent violence, especially Gender-Based Violence (GBV), not only reach women and female children but also involve men in enhancing understanding related to gender justice and efforts in the prevention and handling of GBV.

Japra, a village police officer from Bojonglongok Village, is one of the participants in the training initiated by YCP in Sukabumi district, focusing on the male engagement approach. According to Japra, the active role of men is crucial for successfully preventing acts of violence in the village environment. “I am proud of my wife and JEKATA Sukabumi, who are actively preventing and handling violence cases in the village. I also feel compelled as a man to be involved,” said Mr. Japra during the village-to-village socialization activity.

Until now, JEKATA has successfully initiated 13 Complaint Posts spread across Purwakarta and Sukabumi districts. The progress of the Complaint Posts in their journey has been supported by various parties, including representatives from the village and sub-district-level governments, as well as the general community. “One of our contributions to the community is through the Complaint Posts. We hope that the incidence of violence can decrease, both in the workplace and in the village environment,” said Yohanna Tantria, YCP Program Coordinator.

Writer: Nurainy Darono, Editor: Swiny Adestika