It is hoped that Indonesia’s 77th Independence Day for women will not be just a ceremony, but will become a momentum to increase protection for women and children.

By: Sonya Hellen Sinombor

17 August 2022

Source: Kompas.id (https://www.kompas.id/baca/humaniora/2022/08/17/hut-kemerdekaan-ri-momentum-bebaskan-perempuan-dan-anak-dari-kekerasan-seksual)

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The 77th Anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Indonesia, Wednesday (17/8/2022), was celebrated by grassroots women in a number of areas organized through the Sekolah Perempuan forum. Apart from holding a Red and White flag raising ceremony, they voiced that the commemoration of Indonesia’s independence should also be a momentum to liberate women from all forms of sexual violence.

Grassroots women also call on all parties to respect women’s human rights, especially women victims of sexual violence who have not received protection in seeking justice. Therefore, the implementation of Law Number 12 of 2022 concerning Crime of Sexual Violence (TPKS) is very important.

Independence Day activities with the theme “Celebrate Independence, Women Free from Sexual Violence” were held online by the Women’s Alternative Education Circle Institute (KAPAL Perempuan) and regional women’s organizations together with the GEDSI Watch Movement.

The ceremony was held simultaneously on Wednesday morning by Kelompok Perempuan dan Sumber-sumber Kehidupan (KPS2K) East Java, Lembaga Pengembangan Sumber Daya Mitra (LPSDM) West Nusa Tenggara, Yayasan Kajian Pemberdayaan Masyarakat (YKPM) South Sulawesi, Perkumpulan Pendidikan Penguatan Kepemimpinan Perempuan dan Masyarakat (PEKA-PM) East Nusa Tenggara, Pambangkik Batang Tarandam (PBT) West Sumatera, Yayasan Bakumdik Banten, Bali Sruti, and LBH Perempuan dan Anak Morotai.

In Lombok, members of Sekolah Perempuan held a ceremony for raising the Red and White flag on top of Kayangan Hill with the sea as a backdrop. In Sabutung Island, Pangkajene and Islands (Pangkep) Regency, South Sulawesi, a number of fisherwomen, members of Sekolah Perempuan, raised the Red and White flag under the sea.

In Kupang, Sekolah Perempuan Nusantara held a ceremony in the yard of the Tanah Merah Village office, Central Kupang District, wearing traditional clothing. At the end of the ceremony, a woman read a joint appeal in support of the TPKS Law which was promulgated on May 9th, 2022.

“The TPKS Law is the first step in a state policy that protects its citizens, especially women and children from all forms of sexual violence,” said the woman reading the joint appeal.

In Lumajang, East Java, dozens of women commemorated the 77th Independence Day of the Republic of Indonesia, Wednesday (08/17/2022) by unfurling a large flag at the disaster site in the Lumajang area, right at the foot of Mount Semeru, about 5 kilometers from the peak of Mount Semeru. The women held a ceremony on the land where the lava flows, as a message about the importance of paying attention to women and children in disaster areas.

In East Java, dozens of women unfurled large flags at the disaster site in the Lumajang area, about 5 kilometers from the peak of Mount Semeru. The women held a ceremony on the land where the lava flows, as a message about the importance of paying attention to women and children in disaster areas.

“We hold an independence ceremony here as a moment of recovery. Because this is a disaster area and women here still need recovery and counseling because during disasters they also experience other forms of violence. So, this is an important moment to voice women’s independence in the context of disasters so that they can recover faster and rise stronger,” said Iva Hasanah from KP2SK East Java.

Women’s Independence

Misiyah, Director of KAPAL Perempuan, emphasized that this year’s theme, “Celebrate Independence, Women Free from Sexual Violence” is part of the campaign to eliminate sexual violence in Indonesia.

“It is very important to welcome what the state has given, which women fought for, namely the TPKS Law. “We know, we realize that we have the power, then we do something, so we can encourage other parties to work together to eliminate sexual violence in this country,” said Misiyah.

We held an independence ceremony here as a moment of recovery. Because this is a disaster area and women here still need recovery and counseling because during disasters they also experience other forms of violence.

In Kupang, Sekolah Perempuan Nusantara held a ceremony in the yard of the Tanah Merah Village office, Central Kupang District, on Wednesday (08/17/2022), wearing traditional clothing. At the end of the ceremony, a woman read a joint appeal in support of the TPKS Law which was promulgated on May 9th, 2022.

The independence voiced by grassroots women is also a form of respect and appreciation for the body authority that women have. Women are completely free over their bodies and feel safe from all forms of violence, especially violence that uses women’s bodies as sexual objects.

Budhis Utami, Program Deputy of KAPAL Perempuan, added that celebrating Independence Day is not just ceremonial, but is part of women’s contribution to strengthening the national spirit, plurality that respects diversity.

Apart from ceremonies in a number of areas, “Indonesian Women’s Independence Week 2022” was also held, such as the Sabutung Island Exploration in Pangkep, a local food fashion show in Mamuju, and a Community Radio Broadcast: Proclaiming Women’s Independence in North Lombok.

Then there was also the Elderly Fashion Show in Gresik, Independence Dangdut Festival in Lumajang, Rowing the Boat of Hope from Morotai Island in Morotai, Open Mic “Women and Independence” in Serang, and Book Review: “Balinese Women Activist, Who is She?” in Denpasar.