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Gender-based violence remains neglected issue in Indonesia, UN says
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Protesters march to demand more government attention to gender-based violence during a protest in Jakarta on March 8, 2024. (Antara/Asprilla Dwi Adha)
T
he United Nations body for gender equality and women’s empowerment, known as UN Women, said violence against women remained a widely neglected issue in Indonesia and around the world as it kick-started 16 days of activism against gender-based violence on Monday.
The 16 days of activism are an annual international civil society-led campaign initiated by the UN that aims to raise awareness and mobilize action to end all forms of violence against women and girls. It runs from Nov. 25 to Dec. 10, which is International Human Rights Day.
This year marks 24 years since the UN designated Nov. 25 as International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. The date was selected to honor the Mirabal sisters, three political activists from the Dominican Republic who were brutally murdered in 1960 by order of the country’s ruler.
Dwi Faiz, country representative officer in charge for UN Women Indonesia, said people seemed only to talk about violence against women during the 16 days of activism, even though it occurred every day.
"Even at the global level, international conferences that focus on violence against women don't get as much attention as other forums, such as climate change," she said in a discussion on Monday, as reported by kompas.id.
All hands needed
More attention and effort both from policymakers and the public were necessary to make a significant step forward to end violence against women, Dwi went on to say.
