Jayapura, Jubi – The United Papuan Women's Forum says the Indonesian government is failing to protect women and children in Papua, citing a surge in violence and marginalization over the past six months.

The forum called on the government to guarantee the right to life and security for Papuan women and children, while also urging an end to the militarization of Papua.

According to the forum, Indonesian security forces have in recent months unlawfully arrested, tortured, shot, and killed Papuan women and children, leaving them with no safe spaces.

The group documented at least nine cases of violence against women and children across Papua between April and July 2026.

Among them was the death of Yulita Pigai, a 70-year-old woman with a disability, who was fatally shot in the abdomen while inside her kitchen in Ikebo Village, Kamuu District, Dogiyai Regency, Central Papua, on March 31.

The forum also cited a military operation in several villages in Kembru District, Puncak Regency, Central Papua, on April 14, which allegedly left several women and children dead or injured.

Those killed included Amer Walia, 77, and Para Walia, a three-year-old child. Those wounded included Onde Walia, 5, Aliko Walia, 8, and Anite Kogoya/Telenggen, a 30-year-old pregnant woman who suffered a gunshot wound.

The forum further alleged that Indonesian soldiers fatally shot two women in separate incidents in Puncak Regency on May 2 and 3. Tarling Wanimbo, 20, was reportedly gathering vegetables near her garden in Eronggobak Village, while Naena Murib, 31, was working in her garden in Omukia District.

It also cited the death of Nelly Wenda, 30, who was allegedly struck and killed by a police vehicle in Dekai, Yahukimo Regency, Highland Papua, on May 3.

Another case involved Nalince Wamang, a 17-year-old high school student who was allegedly shot dead by soldiers at a gold mining site in Tembagapura District, Mimika Regency, Central Papua, on May 7.

On June 7, Penti Weya, 18, was killed after stepping on what the forum described as an explosive device allegedly planted by the military during an operation in Wunapunggu Village, Melagi District, Lanny Jaya Regency.

The forum also reported that Oktovina Hogajau, 9, and Aliana Pogau, 40, were injured in an explosion involving another device allegedly planted by the military during an operation in Danggoa Village, Agisiga District, Intan Jaya Regency, on June 18.

In another incident, the forum alleged that indiscriminate gunfire by Indonesian soldiers struck Melkiana Duwitau, 31, who was heavily pregnant and asleep at her home in Sugapa, Intan Jaya, on July 2, killing her.

Doctors at Intan Jaya Regional Hospital managed to perform an emergency operation to deliver her baby, but the infant also died.

"These incidents add to the long list of violence against Papuan women and children since 1961, including the ongoing internal displacement across Papua," the forum said in a statement released on Friday.

The forum said women and children displaced by armed conflict in Nduga, Puncak, Intan Jaya, Pegunungan Bintang, and Mimika continue to face dire humanitarian conditions.

In Maybrat Regency, Southwest Papua, it said military posts operated by the Indonesian Marine Corps' Infantry Battalion 10 have been established across East Aifat Raya and South Aifat districts, making it increasingly difficult for women to access gardens, customary forests, and traditional food sources.

The group said women and children make up the majority of internally displaced people in Papua, many of whom are forced to survive without adequate access to basic services.

It said many displaced people have died from illness and malnutrition, while others have been left without access to education.

According to the forum, the violence has caused lasting trauma and threatens the long-term survival of Indigenous Papuans.

It also argued that the situation has been compounded by large-scale national development projects, which it said exploit natural resources while depriving Indigenous communities of their customary lands.

In southern Papua, the forum said women in Merauke, Boven Digoel, and Mappi have lost farmland and food sources as a result of the government's National Strategic Projects (PSN), which it said are being implemented with the backing of security forces.

The group also criticized plans by Indonesia's National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) to build a satellite launch facility in Korem Village, North Biak District, Papua, saying the project proceeded without consulting the Indigenous Warbon community.

It warned the project threatens productive land, displaces communities dependent on farming and fishing, particularly women, and risks triggering disputes over customary land boundaries.

The forum also pointed to an increase in military deployments in Mamberamo Raya Regency during June, alleging soldiers occupied schools and village offices without community consent and converted them into military posts.

It said the growing military presence has retraumatized residents who experienced violence during previous military operations in Papua.

The United Papuan Women's Forum said the deaths of women and children, the loss of livelihoods, and the expansion of National Strategic Projects demonstrate the state's failure to uphold the rights to life and security of Indigenous Papuans.

It argued the situation reflects an increasingly militarized approach to Papua and a culture of impunity in which alleged human rights violations go unpunished.

The forum said the continued loss of life and insecurity show that the dignity of Papuan women and the future of the next generation are not being respected by the state.

The forum rejected what it described as militaristic policies, the exploitation of Papua's natural resources, and development projects that threaten the lives of Indigenous Papuan women and children.

It called on the government to uphold and protect the rights to life and security of Indigenous Papuan women and children, urged President Prabowo Subianto to prioritize peaceful dialogue, review security policies, and withdraw non-organic military forces from Papua, arguing that the current approach fuels conflict and endangers civilians.

The forum also urged Indonesia's National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) and the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) to investigate the killing of Melkiana Duwitau and other cases of violence against civilians, particularly women and children.

It further called on governors, regents, mayors, provincial and district legislatures across Papua to adopt concrete policies protecting the rights of women and children, and urged the Papuan People's Assembly (MRP) and the Special Autonomy regional legislatures (DPRK Otsus) to summon the Indonesian military and police to explain what it described as excessive security policies in Papua and to take steps to safeguard the fundamental rights of Indigenous Papuans.

Source: https://en.jubi.id/papuan-womens-forum-says-state-failing-to-protect-women-and-children