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Pandemic stymies domestic violence reporting in Indonesia
The economic crisis has made it difficult for many organizations to assist victims and record cases, likely causing domestic violence to be underreported.
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The economic crisis has made it difficult for many organizations to assist victims and record cases, likely causing domestic violence to be underreported. (Shutterstock/rudall30)
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study by the National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) has found that the pandemic has limited access to safe reporting for victims of abuse, exacerbating the already increased dangers of domestic violence during the outbreak.
The annual report, which was released on Friday, just three days before International Women’s Day, recorded 8,234 cases of violence against women in 2020. The study compiled data from partner organizations throughout the country.
While the total figure declined from the 14,719 cases recorded in 2019, domestic violence continued to account for the largest share of cases with 6,480, followed by violence in public spaces with 1,731 cases and state-sanctioned violence against women with 23 cases.
Domestic violence against women and girls includes physical, psychological, economic and sexual abuse, such as harassment, sexual exploitation and marital rape, perpetrated by husbands, boyfriends or family members. Less than 30 percent of recorded domestic violence cases last year were brought to criminal courts or law enforcement agencies for investigation.
"This shows that the home and personal relationships remain unsafe places for women," the report noted.
The number of institutions contributing data to the report fell from 239 in 2019 to 120 last year, partially accounting for the decline in reported cases, according to the commission.
The pandemic’s economic fallout, the study found, had made it difficult for partner organizations to assist victims and record cases, most likely resulting in the underreporting of domestic violence. Many organizations continued to rely on on-site help desks, even though their operational hours had been cut significantly in response to the pandemic.
