Gender Based Violence

Source : Instagram @yourstoryus_heard

One form of sexual violence that occurs due to a lack of sexual education is gender violence. Gender based violence is often known as violence against women or sexism. This violence is a serious phenomenon because it occurs in various parts of the world and Indonesia is one of the countries where gender-based violence occurs. There are various forms of this violence, such as sexual harassment, domestic violence, rape, human trafficking, child marriage, and so on.

The prevalence of gender-based violence has a devastating impact on individuals, families, communities and the country as a whole. It also violates human rights, gender equality and women’s safety. Factors that contribute to the prevalence of gender-based violence include gender inequality, discrimination, social norms that harm women, ignorance, and injustice in the legal system.

In the 2023 Annual Notes (Catahu), gender-based violence (KBG) is a dominating problem because there are 336,804 cases and reach 99 percent. The rise of violence against women and children is very concerning. Quoted from mediaindonesia, patriarchal culture in Indonesia has an impact on violence against women, this is because men’s social position is higher than women’s, so it is considered normal to have abusive behavior against women in the slightest form.

In Indonesia, there are several factors that lead to sexual harassment, including:

1. Cultural norms that are detrimental to women: Several cultural aspects, norms, and stereotypes that still exist in Indonesian society reinforce gender inequality and create an environment that facilitates sexual harassment.

2. Gender inequality: Gender inequality, in which women are often seen as inferior to men, can encourage perpetrators to commit sexual harassment as a form of power and domination.

3. Lack of awareness and education: Lack of awareness about sexual harassment and individual rights, as well as lack of adequate education about sexuality, consent, and gender equality, can lead to a lack of understanding of this issue in society.

4. Social norms that condone or cover up sexual harassment: Some social norms that exist in Indonesian society may condone or cover up sexual harassment, such as victim-blaming (blaming the victim) or considering harassment as “normal”.

5. Ignorance about laws and reporting procedures: Many people are not aware of their rights regarding sexual harassment and reporting procedures. This ignorance can deter victims from reporting the crime.

6. Lack of effective law enforcement: Some cases of sexual harassment in Indonesia may not be taken seriously by the criminal justice system, which may influence victims to report the crime.

To address sexual harassment in Indonesia, action is needed that involves comprehensive sexual education, awareness campaigns, changing social norms, strengthening effective law and law enforcement, and strengthening the role of institutions such as the police and law enforcement agencies in taking sexual harassment cases seriously. The struggle to overcome gender based violence is a collective task and requires continuous efforts from all parties. Therefore, in an effort to overcome sexual violence, it is important to change cultural attitudes that are detrimental to women and promote gender equality in society.