Hera Diani, Jakarta – It has been eight years since the National Commission on Violence Against Women was established following the mass rape of ethnic Chinese women during the 1998 political riots.

A study says that while some progress has been made, the commission needs to broaden its network, establishing visibility and good relationships with policymakers and officials.

The report was drawn up by a three-member team of researchers – Mary Jane Real, former regional coordinator of the Asia-Pacific Forum on Women, Law and Development; Sylvana Apituley, director of the International Conference of Religion and Peace; and Rafendy Djamin of the Human Rights Working Group – who evaluated the commission early this year.

It showed there had been a high level of acceptance of the commission's existence.

Some milestones in the commission's history, the report said, include the passage of the anti-domestic violence law and its collaboration with the Foreign Ministry in handling the problems faced by migrant workers.

The commission has also run training and education programs at national and regional levels for government officials and other institutions, it said.

However, the report said the commission had been poor at forging good relationships with related state institutions, and that its good relationships were based only on individual acquaintances.

"Its relationship with the Attorney General's Office was established only because there was an acquaintance with a prosecutor," the report said.

The commission has also failed to come up with a solid lobbying strategy in its advocacy plan, which targets policy change.

Each division made its own plans and did its own lobbying, such as the advocacy for the domestic violence and witness protection bills. Nor did the commission establish a mechanism for monitoring, as seen after the domestic violence law was passed.

The study suggested the commission appoint a lobbying coordinator in every organizational structure to strengthen its influence in the regions, develop an effective monitoring mechanism and improve its relationships with related institutions.

Commenting on the report, Adriana Venny from the Jurnal Perempuan women's organization said the commission was still lacking much in the areas of advocacy and campaigning for gender issues.

"When President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono stated that women in conflict areas have no problems because they are treated well, which is not true, the commission should have been more responsive and should have held a press conference to clarify the President's statement," Adriana said.

The commission's poor public relations skills, she said, were particularly noticeable in its coordination with local organizations.

"We have received complaints from (women's) organizations and activists in the regions, saying the commission just likes to give orders and doesn't see them as partners on an equal footing," Adriana said.

While according to the evaluation, the State Ministry for Women's Empowerment sees the commission as a rival, Adriana said the facts showed otherwise.

"The ministry is part of the bureaucracy, but they have improved a lot and are more progressive. They're reaching out to activists and organizations in the regions. The commission is a bit arrogant in doing so," she said.

The commission, she added, should improve its public image and programs, providing support, education and advocacy on women's issues.

"They should employ more progressive people. They now have too many commissioners, with secretary-generals and the like, but it's not effective," she said.