Women Human Rights Defenders Vulnerable to Violence: Komnas Perempuan

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The chairperson of the National Commission on Violence Against Women or Komnas Perempuan, Andy Yentriyani, on Thursday said female human rights defenders often find themselves in a susceptible position merely because of their gender. 

Throughout the 2020, the commission received 36 reports of physical attacks and criminalization attempts against women human rights defenders. The figures were higher than that of 2019, which saw 35 cases. 

“The identity as a woman has also presented them with challenges towards their integrity,” said Yentriyani in her acceptance speech in a discussion on criminalizations against human rights defenders on December 2. 

The threats they face include: terror or sexual intimidations, attacks against their role as a woman, mother, and activism, character assasination, morality issues, religious issues, culture, up to gender-based discrimination. 

In general, susceptibilities facing activists, including men, are physical violence, mental intimidation, legal threats by perpetrators or law enforcers, and attempts to silence their voices.

“Komnas Perempuan predicts that the trend of widespread fundamentalism, thuggery, politicization of identity and a culture of violence will lead to increased vulnerability of women human rights defenders in the years to come,” she added,

Read: Komnas Perempuan Pushes for Legalization of Sexual Violence Bill

SYAILENDRA PERSADA