Gender Perspectives in the Response to COVID-19

By Mh Firdaus, The COVID-19 pandemic has lasted over a year. Starting in March 2021, when the COVID-19 virus broke out in Indonesia in the same month last year. At the same time, every March 8, the world commemorates Women’s Day. What is the meaning behind the similarity of these moments?

Yuval Noah Harari, a historian, wrote in the “Financial Times” on February 25, 2021, in an article entitled “Lessons from a year of Covid,” stating that an important aspect of the many people who died and suffered due to the pandemic was the poor “political” decisions of state leaders (“Why, then, has there been so much death and suffering? Because of bad political decisions”). State leaders are slower than scientists (including those in medicine and other sectors), who quickly collaborate and adapt to find a vaccine to prevent the virus.

Meanwhile, state leaders are busy fortifying their regions for their citizens. There is minimal collaboration and synergy, he said. I interpret “politics” as the state’s decision to respond to COVID-19 through policies or responses from non-state actors (either alone or with the government) “interpreting” the rules to deal with the pandemic. Over the course of a year, the management of the COVID-19 response in Indonesia—especially at the beginning—has been patchy. For example, there was a lack of attention from both state and non-state actors to vulnerable groups affected by COVID-19. Once again, the “political” aspect is one of the obstacles to gender justice efforts.

In an expert discussion about “Gender-Responsive and Inclusive Handling of the COVID-19 Pandemic,” held by the KAPAL Perempuan Institute on March 3, 2021, Harari’s insights were vaguely visible. The KAPAL Perempuan Institute’s rapid assessment of a year of COVID-19 found the following: First, (referring to LBH Jentera) during the pandemic, complaints of violence against women increased (2019: 76 cases, 2020: 105 cases, with the highest in July-September 2020: 17-19 cases/month). Second, service providers face challenges in their activities such as complaints, legal handling, protection, and recovery of victims. Third, service providers are limited in providing online services (both in infrastructure and resources). Fourth, the government is refocusing the budget for pandemic handling across three sectors: health, economic recovery, and social assistance.

As a result, the handling of service activities has been neglected. The findings were reinforced by the National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan). Commissioner Sri Endras Iswarini stated that from January to October 2020 (service referral data), there were 1,617 complaints, consisting of 960 domestic violence cases and 888 sexual violence cases.

What is concerning is that several service institutions have changed their strategies from offline to online, she said in the webinar “Turning Challenges into Strengths: Making Changes for Women During the COVID-19 Pandemic,” on March 4, 2021. With online services, complaints are limited to victims who have internet access. Women with disabilities are worse off. Mrs. Nurul, director of SAPDA, stated that people with disabilities face excessive barriers in mobility and communication. That’s why at the beginning of the pandemic, information about COVID-19 was received without filtering. This is exacerbated by the environmental stigma that people with disabilities have previously faced.

Tariska Indri, a representative of a transgender organization, shared the tough challenges experienced by sexual minority groups during the pandemic. Her touching story on her social media account caught the attention of netizens. Women in various other groups faced different — even worse — conditions during the pandemic, as depicted in the webinar. The COVID-19 pandemic has worsened the situation. Management, minimal state budgets, and data are some of the challenges in this field.

Even so, stories and inspiration from various community groups and some local governments were presented at the event. Eva Sundari, Director of the Sarinah Institute and member of the Indonesian House of Representatives from 2014 to 2019, motivated the discussion participants. “Although the challenges are tough during COVID-19, the opportunities to promote the achievement of gender justice and equality are wide open. Various budget policies, especially from the national side, are flexible,” she said in response to various obstacles.

Sundari’s opinion refers to the Cabinet meeting on January 6, 2021, regarding the evaluation of the implementation of the 2020 State Budget and the implementation of the 2021 State Budget policy, where the Indonesian Minister of Finance regulated the Refocusing and Reallocation of Ministry/Institutional Spending for the 2021 Fiscal Year through letter number S-30/MK.02/2021.

If observed closely, the refocusing and reallocation of Ministry/Institutional spending do not only support the national vaccination program but also the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, such as support for social protection budgets for residents and accelerating economic recovery (Kemenkue.go.id, January 15, 2021).

Regarding the achievement of gender equality and justice, the Ministry of Home Affairs, through circular letter number 460/812/SJ to Regents/Mayors and number 460/813/SJ to Governors throughout Indonesia, concerning Planning and Supervision in the Prevention and Handling of Cases of Violence Against Women and Children, emphasizes first the importance of prioritizing the prevention and handling of violence against women and children by involving all parties and carrying out comprehensive reforms in the management of fast, integrated case handling, as well as the provision of social rehabilitation and social reintegration services.

Second, therefore, the Governor and regents/mayors must immediately include prevention funding in the 2020 RKPD (Regional Government Work Plan); if the APBD has been determined, it can be allocated in the RKPD Amendment and the 2020 APBD Amendment.

Dian Kartikasari, a senior activist in the women’s movement, emphasized that the circular is a reference for residents to demand that the local government allocate a budget to address violence against women and children during the pandemic. The same applies to social protection programs.

Hamong Santono, a social protection consultant, stated that the Indonesian government has good intentions in responding to the pandemic. Various policies, programs, and budgets have been created to address the impact of the pandemic. The taxonomy of social protection programs in Indonesia is quite complete. Among them are social assistance programs (social transfers, labor-intensive programs, cost relief, subsidies), social services (family support services), and social insurance (health insurance, employment, etc.).

Intervention programs (exhibitions and training) and labor market policies (minimum wages, etc.) support this. President Jokowi’s commitment on August 16, 2020, to reform social protection programs based on the human life cycle strengthens them. A nearly 100 percent increase in the budget for social protection programs also supports this.

Social movement activists in the Philippines are urging the government to allocate a previously unimaginable budget for the psychological recovery of citizens affected by COVID-19. Local government of the Trenggalek District initiated a “women’s musrenbang” to identify programs for gender equality and justice so that the APBD funds them, Sundari added.

At the grassroots level, various inspiring stories emerge. Misiyah, Director of the KAPAL Perempuan Institute, shares the work of grassroots women during the pandemic. Through women’s schools, women integrate gender perspectives into the economic activities that emerged during the pandemic. Among them are herbal medicine production, weaving, food aid, specific aid for babies, the elderly, pregnant women, women with disabilities in remote areas, nursery businesses, vegetable plants for small areas, catfish farming, local food production, and crafts for traditional ceremony equipment, etc.

Fika Febriana, PAMFLET Generasi Association, aims to restore the mental health of individuals affected by the pandemic through its activities. Based on the collected data, it indicates that the stressors and mental conditions of young people were adversely affected during the pandemic. Therefore, volunteers were trained in mental health management techniques so that they could assist residents at the community level. Afterward, residents were referred to health centers that provide better health services.

Learning from a year of the pandemic, Misiyah proposes recovery from the impact of the pandemic with a gender perspective. Among them are the speed of response, government priorities that utilize gender data, the resilience of survivors, and community initiatives to address the pandemic. Gender-responsive budget changes must become the government’s future budgeting strategy. Women’s Musrenbang is one alternative mechanism. Then, the social protection reform transformed from a targeted approach to a life-cycle approach that improved it. All these proposals must also ensure that no one is left behind.

Today, various sectors of life are challenged to emerge from the crisis. Every country in the world strives to find solutions. Various gaps are created to foster breakthroughs and innovations. If examined closely, there is room for innovation. Rules (state policies) and examples of experiences are presented abundantly. COVID-19 has created an open space for various parties—both government and non-state actors—to innovate and collaborate. Let’s join hands to achieve gender justice and equality for the common welfare on this International Women’s Day, a year into the pandemic.

(Author, Mh Firdaus, member of the Executive Board of the KAPAL Perempuan Institute)