Future discriminative bylaws emulate old ones

The upcoming bylaws that discriminate women and limit their freedom are mostly copies of existing bylaws of similar nature, Masruchah from the National Commission on Violence against Women said Saturday.

“Most of those bylaws are phrased differently, but they all have the same nature as the ones already applied in other areas,” she told The Jakarta Post.

Currently there are 154 bylaws that are seen as discriminatory against women. These ordinances, which are enforced in, among other regions, Aceh and Tangerang, Banten and West Nusa Tenggara, contain rules that center on morality, dress code and religion.

Some of these bylaws prohibit women from leaving the house after 9 p.m. without being accompanied by her muhrim (lawful spouse or male relative), some of them implored Muslim women who works as civil servants to wear jilbab (headcovers).

Last month, the Komnas discovered that at least 15 new bylaw drafts containing discriminative articles were being deliberated.

Masruchah said that the 15 drafts contain roughly the same articles as its forerunners. (dis)