Jakarta – The number of recorded victims of violence against women has skyrocketed from around 54,000 in to 2008 to over 154,000 last year, data from the National Commission on Violence against Women (Komnas Perempuan) revealed Sunday.

"The amount increased by 263 percent," Arimbi Heroepoetri from the Monitoring sub division told the media in Jakarta.

Komnas Perempuan obtained the data by sending out forms to various institutions such as NGOs, hospitals, courts, and the police from December 2009 to January 2010. The institutions filled in the forms and return them to Komnas Perempuan. Some data were also available through the institutions' websites.

Yustina Rostiawati, head of Komnas Perempuan's Research and Development subdivision said the increase did not necessarily mean that there were more cases of violence last year.

"More and more women may have courage to speak up and the institutions have also improved their accessibility," Yustina said. She added the media also played a significant role in bringing violence against women cases to the surface.