The Foundation for Access to Health Initiatives (IPAS) Indonesia launched the ARUNIKA program (Empowered Women Towards an Indonesia Free from Violence) in Semarang, Central Java, on November 12, 2024. This program will be implemented in Semarang Regency, Sukoharjo Regency, and Surakarta City.
The objective of this program is to support efforts in the mechanism for handling cases of violence, especially sexual violence and other gender-based violence, in accordance with regulations in Indonesia. This will enable women to be empowered in an environment free from violence.
Dr. Marcia Soumokil, MPH, Executive Director of the IPAS Indonesia Foundation, stated that her organization is very grateful to the government, especially from the three aforementioned regencies and cities, for welcoming the ARUNIKA program. This collaboration is an important step to ensure that every woman and adolescent girl can pursue their reproductive rights.
She added that ARUNIKA serves as a collaborative platform for all stakeholders to ensure women and adolescent girls are empowered against violence. This collaboration is expected to support the implementation efforts of Law No. 12 of 2022 concerning Sexual Violence Crimes (TPKS) and other related legal regulations in the program areas.
“Through ARUNIKA, women and adolescent girls will be equipped with knowledge and skills as a foundation for making decisions regarding the access and services needed by victims and survivors to recover, including access to reproductive health services they will utilize,” said Dr. Marcia.
In her remarks, Acting Governor of Central Java, Nana Sudjana, represented by the Secretary of DP3AKB Central Java, Wusani Setyaningsih, stated that the government warmly welcomes and will support the implementation of the ARUNIKA program.
According to Simfoni, the case recording portal for Violence Against Women and Children (KtPA) of the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection, cases of violence against women and children reached 1,447. These cases were recorded during the January-September 2024 period.
“With the launch of the ARUNIKA program in Central Java, we hope to enhance the capacity of our colleagues in community health centers (Puskesmas) and hospitals to provide health services for victims of KtPA,” she stated.
She also hopes for performance indicators for the provision of health services to KtPA victims, especially in the health sector, to improve the quality and access to services. She emphasized that the implementation of the ARUNIKA program requires synergy from various parties, such as government and private sectors.
Ratna Susianawati, Deputy for Women’s Rights Protection at KemenPPA, emphasized that the ARUNIKA program can stimulate and provide collective spirit to reduce and handle cases of violence. Furthermore, she added that ARUNIKA can assist efforts in providing services for women and child victims of sexual violence.
“The presence of the ARUNIKA Program is expected to expand and strengthen collaborative elements and efforts, ensuring they are maintained and supported. Certainly, all of this requires the role and support from all levels to address sexual violence,” she added.
The ARUNIKA program is supported by the Government of Canada. Sue Weibe, First Secretary Development at the Canadian Embassy to Indonesia and Timor Leste, stated that one crucial issue related to handling violence cases is the recovery process, as it can be very lengthy. Therefore, it is important for the community to be able to provide the best possible space for survivors in the recovery process and ensure they do not experience trauma.
“GAC appreciates the existence of service centers for sexual violence survivors. However, these are still considered insufficient for victims of sexual violence. This underscores the importance of holding this event [ARUNIKA launch] as an initial step and a shared commitment from all parties, enabling us to consider and assist victims and survivors. Let us commit today to victims and survivors of sexual violence,” she concluded.