The Jakarta Post
The number of discriminatory bylaws are constantly on the rise despite efforts to repeal them, according to the National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan).
“Removing discriminatory policies against women is a slow process. Let’s say we’re currently trying to repeal one bylaw. While we’re doing that, several other new anti-women bylaws spring up. So it’s really an uphill battle,” Komnas Perempuan commissioner Andy Yentriyani said on Friday.
The organization’s research shows that there were 154 bylaws across the country in 2009 that negatively affected the constitutional rights of women, a number which jumped to 189 in 2010 and 207 in 2011.
As of August of 2012, there were 282 of these discriminatory bylaws.
“Of these bylaws, 96 criminalize women through regulations surrounding prostitution and pornography. Another 60 impose...