Considering Family Disgrace, Domestic Violence Victims In Bandarlampung Reluctant To Report

Mayor of Bandarlampung, Eva Dwiana (center) while providing socialization to the public regarding violence against women and children, Thursday (20/11/2021). (ANTARA/Dian Hadiyatna)

BANDARLAMPUNG - Mayor of Bandarlampung Eva Dwiana revealed that until now there are still victims of domestic violence (KDRT) who are reluctant to report their cases to the authorities because they consider it a family disgrace.

"The problem is that sometimes these victims still consider what they have experienced as a disgrace to the family, so they are reluctant to provide information, even the relevant parties know about the case from other people," he said in Bandarlampung, as reported by Antara, Wednesday, November 4.

Therefore, he continued, further education and outreach to the community is needed regarding the issue of violence, whether domestic or sexual harassment, which afflicts women and children.

"We are also actively conducting outreach to the community for the issue of violence against children and women. Hopefully with the socialization it can reduce cases of violence against children and women in Bandarlampung," he said.

However, she said, in order to suppress acts of violence against children and women, an active role from victims and the community is needed to provide information as soon as possible to related parties, both the Office of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection (PPPA) or service agencies that handle this issue. PPPA Bandarlampung Sri Asiyah said victims of violence, both women and children, tend not to report their cases because they are ashamed.

"They still think that the case is a disgrace, this is a difficult one and requires self-awareness, so we continue to provide education and socialization if the victim is protected by law, so they must report the violence they get," he said.

The Executive Director of the Damar Children's Advocacy Organization (LSM), Sely Fitriani, said that referring to the Simfoni data for the October 2021 period, there were 132 cases of violence against women and children in Bandara Lampung.

"Seeing this high incidence rate, it means that there has been awareness from the public to report cases," he said.

According to him, the awareness to report cases of violence against women and children as well as public information to related parties, both agencies and service institutions, is getting better because this issue is no longer taboo and must be covered up.

"So I also want to invite the public, anyone who sees incidents of violence against women and children, immediately report it so that victims immediately get legal protection facilities," he said.