Indonesia marks 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence

In observance of 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence, UN Women Indonesia held a range of activities, including lighting up in orange the Monas Tower in Jakarta, radio talk shows, university events and a film screening to raise awareness of and encourage action to stop violence against women and girls.

Indonesia marks 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence

Date: 26 November 2015

Jakarta, Indonesia – In observance of 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence, UN Women Indonesia held a range of activities, including lighting up in orange the Monas Tower in Jakarta, radio talk shows, university events and a film screening to raise awareness of and encourage action to stop violence against women and girls.

On 25 November, UN Women Indonesia kicked off 16 Days of Activism by speaking on a Jakarta radio station, Woman Radio 94.3 FM. The Indonesian Positive Women’s Network (IPPI), a national network of women living with HIV, also participated in the radio talk show. Both organizations answered questions from the audience on gender-based violence (GBV) and its linkages to HIV/AIDS. The radio show closed with a call to society to play an active role in eliminating violence against women and girls.

In collaboration with Jakarta Provincial Government, National Monument, the Monas Tower, was lit in orange to show support for the UNiTe to end Violence Against Women global campaign.

Film Screening and Discussion

Film screening and discussion to commemorate International Day for Elimination of Violence against Women. From left to right: Livia Iskandar, Pulih at the Peak; H.E. Robert O. Blake Jr., U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia; Prof. Dr. Yohana Yembise, Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection; Justina Rostiawati, UN Women; Nina Nurmila, Indonesia’s National Commission on Violence against Women; and Sri Mulyati, SAPA Institute.

A documentary film entitled ‘From Fear to Freedom’ was screened at the @America Cultural Center on 1 December. The screening was followed by a discussion organized by the United States Embassy in Jakarta, with the support of UN Women Indonesia. The event was opened by U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia, H.E. Robert O. Blake Jr. who encouraged society to prevent violence against women. The Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection, Professor Dr. Yohana Yembise raised the importance of male participation in accelerating gender equality and ending violence against women. The film screening was attended by students from several universities in Indonesia, and was followed by a panel discussion with Nina Nurmila from the Indonesia National Commission on Violence against Women, Livia Iskandar from Pulih at the Peak, Sri Mulyati from SAPA Institute and Justina Rostiawati from UN Women Indonesia.

The following day, the Centre for Gender and Sexuality Studies and the Faculty of Social and Political Science of the University of Indonesia in collaboration with UN Women, the Resource Centre on Sexuality Studies and Seperlima, held a film parade and seminar on prevention of sexual violence against women and girls. The event attracted students, members of civil society organizations (CSOs) and parents, who expressed their concerns about the lack of sex education for teenagers and how sexuality is still a taboo subject in the country. During the events, participants were invited to show their support and commitment to end violence against women and girls, by putting their orange handprints on a white canvas.

The 16 days of Activism finished with a talk-show on top radio station Cosmopolitan 90.4 FM, featuring a discussion and live Q&A session with the audience on violence prevention.

SOURCE asiapacific.unwomen.org