ng Yuniardi, Semarang – The Central Java provincial administration in the process of setting up Commission on Anti-violence against Women and Children in line with Regional Bylaw No. 3/2009 on protection for victims of violence.
Its process is still in the stage of selecting five members of the commission, billed to be the first of its kind in Indonesia. The chosen commission members will be representatives of the community, including religious figures, activists, academians and practitioners.
Soelaimah, head of the Agency for the Empowerment of Women, Children Protection and Family Planning in Central Java, said in Semarang Tuesday that the duties of the commission will include mediation for inter-departmental institutions providing integrated anti-violence services, provision of advocation on protection program and policy and supervision on the process of case handling.
According to Soelaimah, the commission will not become a super institution which guarantees drop in the number of violence against women and children.
"Those having the heavier burden will still be the regental or city administrations, for example, through the establishment of shelters, integrated service centers and the provision of funds to help the victims," she said.
Central Java Deputy Governor Rutriningsih disclosed that the number of violence cases on women and children continued increasing over the last few years. In 2009, for example, the number of violence cases reached 2,512, which were dominated by domestic violence, rape and human trafficking.
"I'm confident the number which was not uncovered was much higher than that. It means it is like the tip of an iceberg, which has to be thoroughly settled," she said.
Soelaimah further said that the Central Java administration had allocated a fund of Rp 500 million to get rid of female violence victims, including to get specialists giving counseling and advocation.
The establishment for the commission constitutes a mandate from Regional Bylaw No. 3/2009 on Protection and counseling for Victims of Violence on Women and children.
Fatah Muria, a member of a team to select the commission members who is also an anti-violence activist, said that the mediation function for the commission was important at a time when regencies and cities in Central Java had their own integrated service centers for such a purpose.
"As there has been the funds earmarked for such services, the next step will be how to ensure its implementation so that it will not be simply a lip service from the government," Fatah said.
"The establishment of this commission is timely in that it will be able to independently supervise and at the same time encourage the formulation of more policies which take site to women and children on the part of the regional government," Fatah explained.