Evi Mariani, Jakarta – Since the establishment of a special desk to handle cases of violence against women at the Jakarta Police headquarters in 1999, the number of reports filed have been steadily increasing.
The police data reveals that there were 107 cases filed in 2002, but the number increased by 25 percent to 134 cases in 2003.
This year, the number of reports filed stands at 50 per month on average, meaning the total for the year could exceed 600.
Both police officers and observers see the increasing number of reports as a reflection that more women have become aware of their rights as well as the presence of the special desk.
But still, according to Adj. Sr. Comr. Arismunandar who heads the desk for cases on women, young adults and children, the victims are still needed to be encouraged to make the reports as most of them preferred to stay silent.
"Victims could even call us directly to my office at 523-4264, if they want us to pick them up," he told reporters over the weekend.
The Police Women's Desk (RPK) is situated next to the complaint desk for general crimes at the police headquarters on Jl. Jend. Sudirman.
Most of the officers at the desk, which was established on April 26, 1999, are policewomen who wear casual dresses and friendly faces.
Besides providing special rooms for the victims, the desk also provides medical doctors and psychiatrists to accompany the victims – who are usually in distress – while giving their statements.
"We have been trained to treat the victims with empathy ... they would not be a victim for a second time here," Chief Brig. Halifah Retno Sari, one of the officers at the desk said.
"Just recently, I handled a victim who was gang raped by three men who also robbed her when she got off a public bus," she said. "The victim cried all day, beat her own breast and repeatedly said she wanted to die of shame." "She eventually talked to us after two days and later agreed to make her complaint official," she said.
In April alone, Halifah handled three sexual assault cases – all the victims were housemaids who were raped or harassed by their employers.
In March, the desk received three rape complaints, while in February it received four, besides other cases.
Arismunandar said the desk had also received complaints on domestic violence.
"We also receive many complaints from women who were promised a marriage by their boyfriend who later did not fulfill it, whereas they had already engaged in sexual intercourse." A lawyer with Legal Aid Institute and the Association of Indonesian Women for Justice (LBH APIK), Muhammad Rezfah Omar, said that the women's desk had shown significant improvement this year.
"A major improvement is seen in the attitude of the officers. They now treat the victims with empathy, not making them a victim all over again by accusing the victims as having a part in the crime," said Omar, who often represented rape victims to file complaints with the desk.
"The officers are the same people as the previous years, but their attitude has changed. They have been more patient in questioning victims," he added. "Last year, I still found an officer who yelled at the victims, making her cry."