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Short film highlights problem of sexual violence in young relationships
Say no: A poster for an animated short film, entitled Kisah Mela dan Miko (A Story of Mela and Miko), an animated short film released to raise public awareness about sexual violence
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span class="inline inline-center">Say no: A poster for an animated short film, entitled Kisah Mela dan Miko (A Story of Mela and Miko), an animated short film released to raise public awareness about sexual violence. Courtesy of Kalyanamitra
Some may think sexual violence is absent among teenagers in intimate relationships. The facts say otherwise.
Kalyanamitra, an NGO promoting women's rights, has worked together with the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives to produce an animated short film, Kisah Mela dan Miko (A Story of Mela and Miko), to raise public awareness of sexual violence in intimate relationships.
The film, available on YouTube, follows a teenager named Mela who is in a relationship with Miko. The two met on Facebook.
One day, Miko asks Mela to go out with him. On a motorcycle, the two ride along. Instead of going to public places, however, Miko takes Mela to his house.
Arriving at Miko's empty house, Mela starts to feel strange. Miko says that his family members are away. However, he convinces Mela to come over. Inside the house, Miko seduces Mela into engaging sexual acts.
Later, however, she is consumed by feelings of anger and humiliation, because she didn't want to do it.
The eight-minute film ends with a tearful Mela coming home, regretting everything that happened at Miko's house.
Kalyanamitra explains that sexual violence in intimate relationships can happen to anyone, regardless of age or socio-economic background. Women and children, however, are the most vulnerable of all.
In 2013, the NGO recorded 2,507 cases where women were the victims of an abusive relationship.
Therefore, the animated film was made in order to raise public awareness about sexual violence in intimate relationships ' in the hope that more women can identify possible gestures of sexual violence in relationships.
'This animated film is available for everyone. Every one of us can use this Mela and Miko movie as a medium for educating the public about sexual abuse. Hopefully, people will become more informed about what sexual violence is, and what moves are considered sexual violence ' even the subtle ones ' so we can all work together to stop the problem,' said Kalyanamitra chairwoman Listyowati.
Kalyanamitra defines sexual violence as sexual harassment, both of the physical and non-physical kind. Non-physical sexual harassment can include whistling, unwanted commentary or gestures. Physical harassment can include groping or any kind of unwanted touching.
The NGO defines rape as forced sexual intercourse that happens without consent from one of the parties involved.
Law and policy consultant Ninik Rahayu said Indonesia had several laws that protected women and children, including from sexual violence, such as Article 285 of the Criminal Code (KUHP), the 2002 Child Protection Law, 2004 Domestic Violence Law and 2007 Human Trafficking Law.
However, she said these laws were ill-equipped to regulate new forms of sexual violence, which include sexual intimidation, forced abortion and forced pregnancy.
'In Article 285, for example, the definition of rape is so narrow, because it requires proof of physical violence, such as bruising or ripped clothes.
'Also, the article considers a sexual act an act of rape only if it involves vaginal penetration, while in fact, now we have various forms of rape, such as by using hands and so forth,' said Ninik, former commissioner of the National Commission on Violence Against Women.
In terms of sexual violence in relationships, Indonesia needs a revolutionary change in law enforcement, as many officials still think there is no such thing as sexual violence in intimate relationships.
'In one rape case I know of, a report turned cold when it was processed by police because the evidence consisted only of a recording from a CCTV security camera that showed the couple holding hands in a hotel,' said Ninik, adding that the victim was sexually abused by her boyfriend at the hotel.
'The victim reported the rape to police but the police didn't buy it, because they believed it was consensual sexual intercourse.' For police, it seemed the basic fact of the pair's relationship was enough to invalidate the rape claim.
