tirto.id - "Peace is not just the absence of war. Many women quarantined because of Covid-19 face violence where they should be safest: in their own homes," U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres said.
Guterres made the call via a one minute 57 second video posted on his personal Twitter account on April 6, 2020. He called there had been a "terrible global wave of domestic violence".
In some countries, the number of women asking for help has doubled in their need for protection services. Health services and police are overwhelmed and lacking personnel.
According to him, quarantine or lockdown is indeed important to overcome the spread of Covid-19. However, it can trap women with partners who often commit violence.
Therefore, he called for peace at home and in all the homes of the world.
"I urge all governments to make prevention and tackle violence against women part of an important step in the national plan to respond to COVID-19."
During 2019, Komnas Perempuan recorded at least 11,105 cases of domestic violence in Indonesia. Social restrictions that began to be imposed since the beginning of March 2020 are predicted to make domestic violence cases increasing.
Based on data from the Legal Aid Institute (LBH) of the Indonesian Women's Association for Justice (Apik) during March 16 to March 30, 2020 there were 59 cases of violence, rape, sexual harassment, and online pornography that occurred. Among these cases, 17 of them are domestic violence cases.
According to LBH Apik, this number has tripled compared to before the enactment of social restrictions. This figure is the highest number of cases ever recorded by LBH Apik in the space of two weeks.
In Indonesia, there have been no specific reports of an increase in domestic violence cases during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, reports of an increase in domestic violence cases in Yogyakarta city during the pandemic are alarming for other regions or even nationally about "terrible KDRT waves" such as guterres.
In yogyakarta city, domestic violence cases have increased in March 2020 since the call for restrictions on social activities. The government makes a policy to carry out all activities from home, including work and worship to prevent the spread of corona.
"In February, there was a decrease in cases compared to January so we also expect a decrease in cases in March. However, it turns out that there has been an increase. The increase occurred since mid-March," said Head of Women's Community Empowerment and Child Protection Office (DPMPPA) Yogyakarta City Edy Muhammad in Yogyakarta, Monday (04/13/2020), quoted from Antara.
Based on data from the Technical Implementation Unit (UPT) of the Integrated Service Center for The Protection of Women and Children (P2TP2A) yogyakarta city the type of violence experienced is mostly psychic.
Details of domestic violence in January recorded 13 cases with victims of 11 women and two men; February 10 cases, nine women and one man as victims; And in March it increased to 18 cases, the victims were 14 women and four men.
According to him, violence against children also increased, namely in January there were two cases; February one case; In March, there were six cases.
"The main factor is in the economic condition of the family which then affects a person's emotional state. However, we have not been able to conclude whether this is also related to the impact of COVID-19 or not," he said.
Quarantine Can Make People Stressed & Behave Rudely
Nur Hidayati Handayani, a counselor from Yayasan Pulih, an agency that cares about the services of victims of violence and psychosocial strengthening of disaster victims, said that the emergency situation of the Covid-19 pandemic disaster tends to cause stress.
Handa who is a member of the coalition caring for vulnerable groups of Covid-19 victims gave exposure via video teleconference, Tuesday (04/14/2020). He said stress in the midst of a pandemic is what then results in violent behavior including domestic violence.
"In an emergency situation there is such a thing as a stress response and when an emergency situation occurs then our stress response arises," Handa said.
All people can do in responding to stress is fight or flight. With an emergency situation that requires everyone to limit outdoor activities, running is difficult to do.
Most people's reaction is to fight back. And when fighting this emerging stress then biologically the heart will pound and the adrenaline generated like ready to fight.
Then for those who have a family and have not been able to respond to mental readiness with life skills including how to respond to stress will be a problem. It cannot express, regulate emotions so that what comes out is unhealthy behavior in the household.
In addition, the intensity of meeting and interaction of couples is also one of the factors for the occurrence of domestic violence. In the current pandemic situation, many couples have to meet a day for 24 hours. In fact, said Handa, in healthy interactions each individual takes time to be alone.
However, because they are in quarantine and they have no knowledge of it, then inevitably many couples have to meet constantly. They don't have the ability to express their emotional needs.
"So that what comes out is abusive behavior and tends to be excruciating. That's why the domestic violence trend tends to increase in emergency situations," he said.
Government Must Have a Gender Perspective on Covid-19
Handa said to deal with domestic violence caused by this pandemic, the government needs to have guidance on how to integrate gender in disaster situations. There needs to be gender-sensitive services and protection so that children are not exploited.
However, of course the current emergency situation, he said, is different from other emergency situations during disasters. Pandemics require people not to meet and not make physical contact.
"So what countries can do is jointly look for innovations on how to incorporate gender perspectives or create a more practical guide tailored to the COVID-19 situation. Guidance on domestic violence cases, what needs to be done," he said.
Maidina Rahmawati, a researcher at the Institute for Criminal Justice Reform (ICJR) on the same occasion said in these conditions the government should prioritize public health.
The government, he said, should set aside the targets of passing new laws that are still polemic, and also rule out the sustainability of investment.
The most important thing, he said, is efforts to prioritize public health through policies or regulations that ensure that efforts to combat pandemics are carried out comprehensively.
"And certainly every policy formulation or step taken at every level from region to center must have a gender perspective in it. Must pay attention to the specific needs of vulnerable groups," Maidina said.
Domestic Violence Victim Complaint Services Should Be Easy to Reach
Teza Farida, a representative of the Indonesian Family Planning Association (PKBI), who is also a member of the coalition, said five coalition demands must be met immediately by the state in overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic.
First, for the government to stop all discussion of problematic bills, especially the RKUHP, the Omnibuslaw Employment Bill, and the Family Resilience Bill.
The government is required to take strategic policies in response to COVID-19 by taking into account gender aspects and non-discriminatory principles against gender minorities, including ensuring leadership space is available to vulnerable groups.
Then provide economic guarantees to small communities, especially those who do not have health insurance or a fixed income. At the same time anticipate mass layoffs on workers in Indonesia.
Providing easy access to domestic violence complaint services, ranging from counseling to temporary safe places for victims and appeals for the importance of gender equality in homes and other public environments during or after the COVID-19 outbreak.
And lastly, the government is required to ensure the availability of personal protective equipment (APD) for women's health workers and pay attention to the accessibility of mental health services in Indonesia including the prevention of COVID-19 outbreaks in mental health homes.
Reporter: Irwan Syambudi.
Author: Irwan Syambudi
Editor: Maya Saputri
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