Victims of domestic violence push for more govt support

Victims of domestic violence have complained about a lack of government support in handling their cases, which are generally regarded as marital issues.

In an annual gathering of victims of domestic violence organized by the province’s female empowerment and protection agency on Thursday, most women affected by domestic violence said they felt desperate and helpless when seeking justice in government offices or judicial bodies.

Cases of domestic violence have been increasing in the last few years as Balinese women have begun to have the courage to report cases to their families, legal aid agencies and the police.

According to data from the province’s female empowerment and protection agency, there were 183 cases of domestic violence involving wives, 53 cases involving families and 24 cases of sexual molestation.

Data from the Bali Police showed that 54 percent of domestic violence affecting women was physical or emotional abuse. Other marital cases involved child custody, civil lawsuits and divorces.

Agency chair Luh Hariyani said that the government could only accompany victims of domestic violence to file criminal cases.

“For legal assistance, we suggest they go to various legal aid organizations,” she said.

Eka Wahyuni, head of women and child protection in the Bali chapter of the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation, said that under traditional law, women or wives are the ones who suffered great losses — in terms of material and immaterial things — when they got divorced.

“Unfortunately, cases of domestic violence rarely go to court as the police would say they have inadequate evidence or witnesses to take the case to court,” Wahyuni said.

Activist Endang Widiati said that domestic violence in Bali was the direct impact of the rigid perception and translation of the Balinese paternalistic family system, which places male heirs above female ones.

In the case of those emotionally affected by bad marriages, women in Bali also face difficulties.

Nyoman Retni (not her real name) from Gianyar said she felt brokenhearted and angry knowing her husband cheated on her. “My husband wanted to file for a divorce but I tried hard to keep our marriage together for the sake of our children,” said Retni, adding that she had to accept being hurt and humiliated when her husband asked her to leave their home.

“In Bali, a divorced woman is regarded as a second class member of society. She neither belongs to her husband’s family nor her own family before they hold a special ritual called mepamit to say goodbye to the husband’s. This kind of ritual has often placed women in a difficult situation,” she said.