Courtesy of Arts for Women

A documentary film about two women from Sikka regency in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) who survived sexual violence as teens serves as a window on to a grim picture of the situation of women'€™s rights in the country.

Masih Ada Asa (or Memory & Hope for international release) tells the story of Ati and Ros who were raped by people they knew and how they dealt with the stigma given by the patriarchal social system.

A production of PeaceWomen Across the Globe (PWAG) Indonesia and Arts for Women, the 83-minute documentary catches the struggle of the teens in finding justice and to come in terms with themselves at the same time.

PWAG Indonesia director Valentina Sagala, a lawyer and seasoned women'€™s rights activist, said that the story of Ati and Ros countered all common beliefs on rape survivors.

'€œUnlike other crimes, in rape cases, the public perception on the victim largely affects the legal proceedings,'€ Valentina said after a screening recently at the Goethe Haus in Menteng, Central Jakarta, to commemorate International Women'€™s Day.

'€œThere are inherent societal values in the body of a woman. In that belief, a woman who behaves in accordance to the social norms would not be fallen victim,'€ she said.

Ati, a Muslim, was a model student in a vocational high school in Sikka who always wore modest clothes and headdress. She stayed in a boarding house, away from her parents and siblings.

One Friday in 2009, Ati finished noon prayers when the house owner raped her.

The accused turned out to be a regional council member. The case was frozen in court.

Ros, now 22, was a typical rebellious teen who left her parents'€™ house for a punk community. She worked at a hair salon to make ends meet.

As she walked back from a late party, she was chased by a group of boys and gang-raped in a deserted alley. Ros recognized one of the offenders as a male friend.

During her subsequent pregnancy, Ros mustered the courage to bring the case to the court, despite intimidation from the defendants aimed at her family. The court ruled in her favor and sent the defendants to jail.

Bravery: Ros, a survivor of sexual violence, as she speaks to filmmakers about her experience. Courtesy of Arts for Women

The documentary, directed by Yuda Kurniawan and produced by Caroline Monteiro, backs up data from the National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan), which reported that gang rapes and rapes committed by public figures or officials were difficult to prosecute.

In 2012, the commission said that there were 20 cases of sexual violence against women reported each day in the country and that most offenders were known to the victims, whose average age was between 13 and 18.

'€œIf there is one thing a rape survivor needs is recognition that a grave crime has taken place,'€ Valentina said. '€œThe documentary can serve as a tool for the fight against sexual abuse, because the more we know about it, we can be more sensitive and [are] able to identify and even to prevent the crime.'€

She criticized the government for not incorporating discussions on a proposed law on sexual violence into its five-year plan until 2019, as previously promised.

According to Valentina, sex crimes such as rape were lumped under '€œmoral offenses'€ in the Criminal Code.

Caroline said that she would bring her project on a road show in NTT before going to other regions. '€œI have determined to film the plight of rape survivors during my stay in NTT. I started the production in 2012 and the filming was started last year.'€

Filming took months until Ati and Ros were ready to talk about what they had gone through.

The women connected with filmmakers from the Team of Volunteers for Humanity in Flores (TRUK-F) based in Maumere, the capital of Sikka. TRUK-F, led by Sister Eustochia Monika Nata, has provided a safe house and legal support for the women and children survivors of sex crimes since 1999.

'€œEither case of Ati and Ros is unique, but they both chose to stand up and fight,'€ said TRUK-F staffer Maria Hendrika Hungan, or Henny, who accompanied Ati and Ros to the premiere. '€œThey are the example of rape survivors who have moved forward and continue to reach their dreams and to raise their children.'€

Ati lives with a son from a short-lived marriage to a distant relative who abandoned her. Ati, who always wanted to become a teacher, has been given the chance to teach at an elementary school in her hometown although she was yet qualified for the stint.

'€œI received lots of help from people who care about me. I have enrolled in an open university and will continue teaching,'€ said Ati, who read a poem she wrote on stage.

Meanwhile, Ros said she left her six-year-old girl to be raised by her parents in Maumere as she pursued her dreams of becoming a singer while cleaning houses between voice classes in Bekasi, West Java.

She took the stage and the heart of the audience when she sang '€œTakdirku'€ (My Destiny).

'€œI couldn'€™t talk about the rape to just anybody. It will still haunt me, but it won'€™t stop me,'€ said Ros.

On screen: Sister Eustochia Monika Nata as she is interviewed for the documentary. Courtesy of Arts for Women