The Law on Sexual Violence Crimes, which was recently enacted in April 2022, mandates that the government is responsible for fulfilling the rights of sexual violence victims to handling, protection, and recovery, including the right to healthcare services covering examinations, procedures, and medical treatment as stipulated in Article 68 of Law No. 12 of 2022.
Furthermore, Article 39, paragraph 2, specifically states that medical personnel or health workers, if they become aware of alleged criminal acts of sexual violence, are obliged to inform the Regional Technical Implementation Unit (UPTD) Integrated Service Center (PPT), technical implementation units and regional technical implementation units in the social sector, Community-Based Service Providers, and/or the police.
The Central Sulawesi Women’s Equality Advocacy Group (KPKPST) currently has 20 fostered villages, each of which has a Women-Friendly Space that serves as the first point of contact for receiving complaints of violence against women and children. RRP volunteers (task force and members) also provide assistance to victims in accessing services that are their right.
Unlike in large cities where healthcare services are well-established with numerous options, in villages, midwives are the most accessible healthcare providers for the community. Knowledge of gender-based violence and early intervention needs to be possessed by each of these healthcare workers to support the implementation of Law No. 12 of 2022 on Sexual Violence Crimes.
This training took place from September 2-4, 2022, and was facilitated by Mitra Kadarsih, Soraya Sultan, and Marcia Soumokil at Hotel Jazz, Palu.
On the first day, participants learned about Gender-Based Violence and Domestic Violence, and listened to shared experiences regarding the handling of related health cases. Participants also familiarized themselves with laws concerning the handling of violence against women and children on the same day. Then, the facilitators explained the material on Respectful Midwifery Care, or women-centered healthcare services. In this session, participants were divided into several groups to discuss: the philosophy and principles of midwifery services, outlining the role and position of midwives towards women, detailing women’s health and reproductive rights, etc.
The facilitators also introduced the 8 steps of Clinical Management of Rape (8 Steps for Clinical Management of Rape or Sexual Violence) which help midwives identify cases of sexual violence. Participants also learned about the referral mechanism for sexual violence cases to other healthcare facilities.