Patriarchal Culture Makes Women Vulnerable To Sexual Violence, Minister Bintang Supports TPKS Bill To Be Ratified Soon

JAKARTA - The Minister of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection (PPPA) Bintang Puspayoga said the issue of violence against women is an iceberg phenomenon.

"So the real problem is much deeper and more complicated than it appears from the surface," explained Bintang in a webinar in Jakarta, Antara, Thursday, December 9.

Bintang said that violence can happen to anyone and anywhere, even the perpetrators of violence are often people who are very well known to the victim, be it parents, relatives, teachers, friends and neighbors. Incidents of violence can also occur in homes, schools, Islamic boarding schools, workplaces, public facilities or in places that are considered safe.

In addition, the existence of a deep-rooted patriarchal culture in society has placed women in a lower position than men. As a result, they are very vulnerable to violence, discrimination and other mistreatment.

Based on data from the Online Information System for the Protection of Women and Children (Simponi PPA) according to the year of input, there were 8,803 cases of violence against women of which around 74.6 percent were domestic violence. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of cases of violence against women increased.

"The issue of violence against women is even more complicated due to the COVID-19 pandemic that we have faced and are still facing," said Bintang.

It noted that the increasingly massive use of the internet during the pandemic has increased the risk of online gender-based violence.

Minister Bintang asked all parties to support the ratification of the Draft Law on the Crime of Sexual Violence (RUU TPKS).

"I ask for the support of all parties to support, guard and close the ranks of the struggle so that the Draft Law on the Crime of Sexual Violence can be immediately ratified," he said.