Violence Against Women And Children In The Riau Islands Increases

Illustration/Photo: Antara

TANJUNGPINANG - The National Commission for Women noted that cases of violence against women and children in the Riau Islands continued to increase during the 2015-2021 period, from 27 cases in 2015 to 198 cases in 2021.

Especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, cases of violence against women and children increased dramatically, one of which was triggered by economic problems.

"For example, the fate of women has a pile of workloads at home, plus increased tension within the family, especially due to loss of income sources", said the National Commission for Women's Head of the Sub-Committee for Recovery System Development, Theresia Iswarini in Tanjungpinang, Friday, March 25.

According to her, the increase in cases of violence against women and children is not only happening in Riau Islands but throughout Indonesia, where from 2020 there are 940 cases to 1,721 cases in 2021.

"There is an increase of 83 percent", said Theresia as quoted by Antara.

Meanwhile, Chairperson of the Social Welfare Coordinating Institute (LKKS), Dewi Kumalasari, said that so far there has been different treatment received between victims and perpetrators of violence against women and children.

According to her, victims of violence do not get the justice they deserve.

"The perpetrators were arrested by the police, fed, and provided for in their cells. While the victim was not accompanied, sometimes the victim did not get access to services and the victim did not get the rights she deserved", said Dewi Ansar.

For this reason, her party coordinates with National Human Rights Commission as momentum for efforts to fulfill the rights of women victims of violence and criminal acts.

Then, formulate a regulation to accommodate National Commission for Women, how the victims of violence against women and children get their rights.

She also hoped that National Commission for Women would share information and National Commission for Women's programs in the future.

"Later on, the information and programs can be synergized with the Riau Islands Provincial Government programs", he said.

Head of the Department of Women's Empowerment, Child Protection, Population Control and Family Planning (DP3AP2KB) of Riau Islands Province, Misni said cases of violence against women and children include physical, psychological, sexual, neglect, and economic violence.

The irony is that the violence is carried out by men who are the closest people, such as parents, husbands, girlfriends to siblings.

Misni also admits that the issue of gender equality still occurs in the field, where injustice occurs in almost all areas of women's lives.

Gender should be able to make women and men understand each other rather than their respective functions and roles.

"When that happens, then gender equality will be realized", said Misni.