Ismira Lutfia – Women's rights activists have complained they are frequently subject to intimidation and harassment for counseling the victims of physical and sexual abuse.
According to the National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan), there were 54,425 cases of abuse involving women reported to the police in 2008.
Some regions across the country are beginning to provide recovery services for victims, but most have not, typically citing financial constraints.
A national forum for women's advocacy groups in Jakarta said it was high time the government set up regulations protecting women's rights defenders.
Yeni Roslaini Izi, the director of the Women's Crisis Center in Palembang, South Sumatra, was nearly jailed for doing her job. In 2001, the Palembang District Court found Yeni guilty of defaming a wealthy man accused of raping a 15-year-old girl.
"I was sued by the alleged rapist for defamation while his trial was ongoing and I was found guilty," she said.
Yeni was sentenced to two months in jail, a verdict that was eventually lifted after a lengthy legal ordeal. The alleged rapist was sentenced to six months in jail for attempting to "abscond with a minor."
"I lodged an appeal to the Supreme Court but had to wait for seven years until the court finally declared me free from all charges in 2008," she said.
The abused girl blamed herself for Yeni's legal struggle. "It took time to convince her it was not her fault," Yeni said.
Beauty Erawati, from the Women's Legal Aid Foundation (LBH Apik) in Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara, said she had been physically threatened during the course of her work.
"I once had a sickle put around my neck, and there were men who came to our office threatening to burn it down," she said.
Beauty said her branch of the organization received many threats from local people who believed the abuse of women should not be made public.
"Local societies still think that if a victim speaks openly about the abuse she experienced, she is airing her family's dirty laundry in public," she said.