Najmi Mumtaza Rabbany | http://devotion.greenvest.co.id

654

THE URGENCY OF WOMEN'S INVOLVEMENT IN THE DECISION-

MAKING PROCESS OF RESOLVING CASES OF VIOLENCE AGAINST

WOMEN

Najmi Mumtaza Rabbany

Master's Program in the Department of Political Science, Faculty of Social and Political

Sciences, University of Indonesia

najmi.mumta[email protected]c.id

KEYWORDS

Involvement of

Women, Violence

Against Women,

Gang Rape

ARTICLE INFO

Accepted:

April, 26

2022

Revised:

May, 7

2022

Approved:

May, 12

2022

ABSTRACT

Violence against women is currently rife in Indonesia. This incident

did not only occur in one or two areas, but occurred in various regions

and in various forms. One form of violence against women is mass

rape or what is familiarly called gang rape. Where this term refers to a

rape of women carried out in groups. The state in this case should have

a role through the existing state institutions. The role of community

groups is also important in dealing with cases of violence against

women. The theory of the importance of women's involvement in the

decision-making process put forward by Chusnul Mar'iyah and other

feminist theories will be the analytical knife of this research in

understanding the involvement of the state and groups in society

facing cases of violence against women, especially gang rape.

INTRODUCTION

In general, when referring to the reality in Indonesia over the past few years, it can be

seen that violence against women, especially cases of mass rape that occurred in various

regions, is increasingly prevalent. For example, what happened in 2016 ago where cases of

violence against women in Indonesia have increased, especially related to the problem of mass

rape or also known as Gang Rape. Mass rape itself has not been defined in the big Indonesian

dictionary, but according to the Cambridge Dictionary, Gang Rape can be defined as "an

occasion when a group of people use violence or threatening behavior to force someone to have

sex with all of them" (Walmsley, 2016). By referring to this definition, it can be understood

that Gang Rape is an occasion where a group of people use violence or behavior to force

someone to have sex with that group. Usually the victims of Gang Rape are women, because

women are often socially constructed as second-class society. In fact, Carol Pateman in her

book The Sexual Contract has its own discussion in seeing women as fulfilling the sexual needs

of men (Elman, 2013).

In an effort to handle these cases, at least an action is needed by the state and state

institutions and the collective responsibility of the state and groups in society. The goal is none

other than to solve violence against women, where women feel the need to be involved in

solving the violence that they often experience. In this case, policy making must also involve

women. The involvement of women in solving existing problems is important, because often

the policies issued are gender-biased in a hegemonic, patriarchal society (Alfonso & Flanagan,

2017). Then with reference to this, this paper at least tries to look at the involvement of women

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in the decision-making process through state institutions and observe the collective

responsibility of the state and other groups in society in dealing with cases of violence against

women, especially gang rape.

In explaining the importance of women's involvement in the decision-making process

(Fennell, 2011). I will start with Amartya Sen's theory which leads us to understand that the

women's movement is now starting to be seen as an active agent of change. Where there is an

important finding, that when women get the opportunity they are quite successful in politics,

economics and other things (de Oliveira, 2021). In fact, Anne Philips also said that in the 19th

century the women's movement was active to fight for their democratic rights because women

could bring new values and perspectives and bring something new to the political stage. The

women's political movement needs to be built to review the relationship between women and

the public sphere (Whitlatch & Schick, 2019).

In addition, by using the arguments expressed by Chusnul Mar'iyah in her paper entitled

"Muslim Women Among Democratization, Globalization and Fundamentalism: Lesson

Learned from Indonesia" we will better understand why the state needs to involve women in

the decision-making process in political conditions that placing women often marginalized in

the decision-making process (Mar’iyah & Zulkarnain, 2021). There are three arguments that

support this explanation. First, policies related to women's reproductive rights. In this context,

it is understood that women do not have the right to self-determination (Dombestein, Norheim,

& Lunde Husebø, 2020). It must be understood that in policies related to women's reproduction,

only women experience this problem. Second, state policies in relation to the relationship

between women and men, for example problems of marriage, divorce and women's mobility.

Third, policies that have an impact on men and women, such as policies on health, education,

employment, migrant workers, economic development, war and peacemaking,

industrialization, all of which have different impacts between men and women and often have

different interests. women who are not adequately met in the political policy-making process

(Mar’iyah & Zulkarnain, 2021).

RESEARCH METHOD

The research method used in this study is a qualitative descriptive method. The type of

data used in this research is qualitative data, which is categorized into two types, namely

primary data and secondary data. Sources of data obtained through library research techniques

(library study) which refers to sources available both online and offline such as: scientific

journals, books and news sourced from trusted sources. These sources are collected based on

discussion and linked from one information to another. Data collection techniques used in this

study were observation, interviews and research. This data is analyzed and then conclusions

are drawn.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

In explaining the importance of women's involvement in the decision-making process,

this paper refers to several perspectives. For example, referring to Amartya Sen's theory which

leads us to understand that the women's movement is now starting to be seen as an active agent

of change. The reason is, this is marked by an important finding which shows that when women

get the opportunity they are quite successful in politics, economics and other things (Elster,

Dagger, & Deakin, n.d.). In addition, Anne Philips also said that in the 19th century the

women's movement was active to fight for their democratic rights because women could bring

[ THE URGENCY OF WOMEN'S INVOLVEMENT IN THE

DECISION-MAKING PROCESS OF RESOLVING CASES OF

VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN]

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Vol. 3, No. 7, May 2022

new values and perspectives and bring something new to the political stage. The women's

political movement needs to be built to review the relationship between women and the public

sphere (Whitlatch & Schick, 2019).

In addition, by using the arguments expressed by Chusnul Mar'iyah in her paper entitled

"Muslim Women Among Democratization, Globalization and Fundamentalism: Lesson

Learned from Indonesia" it can be understood why the state needs to involve women in the

decision-making process in political conditions that placing women often marginalized in the

decision-making process (Zaetun & Mar’iyah, 2020). There are three arguments that support

this explanation. First, policies related to women's reproductive rights. In this context, it is

understood that women do not have the right to self-determination. In addition, it should also

be interpreted that policies related to women's reproduction, only women who experience these

problems. Second, state policies in relation to the relationship between women and men, for

example problems of marriage, divorce and women's mobility. While the third are policies that

have an impact on men and women, such as policies on health, education, employment, migrant

workers, economic development, war and peacemaking, industrialization, all of which have

different impacts between men and women and are often present. women's interests are not

adequately met in the political policy-making process.

As for explaining why the involvement of women in policy making is important, this

paper narrates one of the problems that is currently rife in Indonesia, namely cases of violence

against women, especially mass rape or gang rape that occurred to an elementary school student

in Semarang City who was still 12 years old (Hutagaol & Dharmastuti, 2022). In this case, this

incident occurred in early May 2016, where the rapes took place in three different places. A

total of 21 people viciously raped the 12-year-old child. This group of rapists intimidated

victims into serving them. And since this news was picked up by the national media, the traces

of the rapists are still being sought by the police and the police have been determined to pursue

the perpetrators to the last drop of blood. Based on the information circulating and received,

the rape took place three times. The first rape allegedly occurred on Saturday, May 7, 2016 at

00.00, which was carried out by seven perpetrators in a hut. The second incident, allegedly

occurred on Thursday, May 12, 2016 at a location not far from the sand depot and was even

more sadistic by twelve perpetrators. The third incident took place on Saturday, May 14, 2016

in a brick-making hut carried out by two criminals. Apart from being raped, the perpetrators

were also suspected of being force-fed Koplo pills by the perpetrators.

According to the chairman of the National Commission for Child Protection, Arist

Merdeka Sirait, the incident that happened to the victim of an elementary school student in

Semarang City who was raped by twenty-one people at different times was gang rape. Arist

has met with parents and victims and victims of physical and psychological problems, where

psychologically the victim was severely traumatized and physically the victim had problems

with the reproductive organs. According to him, this action is very heinous because the

perpetrators of the crime intimidate the victim to be willing to follow the wishes of the

perpetrators of the crime. Meanwhile, from the police themselves, according to the Head of the

Women's Child Protection Unit of the Semarang Polrestabes Criminal Investigation Unit, AKP

Kumarsini himself confirmed that the family had reported the incident. And the police are still

continuing to investigate and do not know the exact chronology of the events that occurred.

The head of the Semarang Polrestabes, Kombes Pol Burhanudin, has promised that he and the

entire police force will pursue the gang of rape perpetrators to the last drop of blood.

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Furthermore, by referring to the chronology of the case, it can be understood that the

problem of gang rape has not only occurred recently in Indonesia, but has even occurred during

the reform process. In connection with the narrative of the problem that I raised, namely the

rape incident of elementary school students in Semarang in May 2016, there was an NGO

involved, namely the National Commission for Child Protection through its chairman, Arits

Merdeka Sirait who said that the gang rape phenomenon must be watched out for by all parties

because it is currently being a problem. trend, gangs of rapists against children (Liu, Wei, Nie,

Sprenkle, & Wang, 2016). In this case, the state itself participates in efforts to overcome

violence against women. In the legislature, the DPR agreed to include 10 draft laws (RUU) in

the national legislation program (prolegnas). One member of the DPR who also voiced his

concern was a member of Commission IV of the DPR RI, Rieke Dyah Pitaloka who said that

based on the facts on the ground, it appears that incidents of sexual violence against children

and women continue to increase, so the Bill on the Elimination of Sexual Violence has urgency.

In addition, he also stated the urgency of the need for a law that can define sexual violence

more broadly and provide a more comprehensive treatment for victims, their families and

perpetrators. This statement was conveyed during a discussion with the Chairperson of the

National Commission for Child Protection, Aris Merdeka Sirait and the Commissioner of

Komnas Perempuan, Sri Nurherawati (Riswanto, 2016). Moreover, on the other hand, law

enforcement officers also continue to pursue the perpetrators. As stated by the Head of

Semarang Polrestabes, Kombes Pol Burhanudin who said that efforts to search for the

perpetrators would be carried out to the last drop of blood (Lupi & Nurdin, 2016).

Thus, it can be said that the state through the legislature, executive, law enforcement

together with groups in society have taken actions to address the issue of violence against

women. As for women in Indonesia, according to Amartya Sen's thesis, now they are starting

to play a role as agents of change in society, for example with the formation of the NGO

Coalition of Indonesian Women for Justice and Democracy which has a vision to realize gender

equality and justice towards a democratic, prosperous and civilized society.This NGO was

originally formed on 18 May 1998 to fight the New Order which had destroyed the women's

movement and discrimination. This NGO is actively fighting for women's participation in

decision-making at all levels (Opening of AD-ART Women's Coalition for Justice and

Democracy). Meanwhile, related to the theory put forward by Anne Philips, it can also be said

that the NGO Coalition of Indonesian Women for Justice and Democracy when fighting for

their democratic rights can bring new values and perspectives as well. This is also explained in

Didik Supriyanto's thesis which explains the struggle of Chusnul Mar'iyah as a pioneer of the

women's movement in affirmation policy. Chusnul Mar'iyah formed the Indonesian Women's

Coalition for Justice and Democracy which was then very active in fighting for affirmative

action which was successfully translated into Law Number 10 of 2008 which requires at least

30% of women to be in the management of political parties at the central level in order to

become participants. In the general election, political parties must also nominate at least 30%

as prospective legislative candidates.

In addition, by referring to Chusnul Mar'iyah's argument regarding the need for the state

to involve women in the decision-making process, it can be understood in the context of Gang

Rape for elementary school students in Semarang, that the role of women is very important and

essential. This was reflected in the presence of a member of Commission IV of the DPR RI,

Rieke Dyah Pitaloka, who actively voiced that the discussion of the bill on the elimination of

sexual violence had urgency and needed a broader definition of sexual violence (Anastasia,

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Noerdin, Anindhita, & Aripurnama, 2014). We can understand this, because Rieke Dyah

Pitaloka has on several occasions revealed that he had been a victim of sexual violence. In this

condition, it is appropriate then that affirmative action in order to increase women's

participation is implemented because there are policies that actually only women experience it,

so that women's involvement is important so as not to produce discriminatory decisions or harm

women.

CONCLUSION

By referring to the explanations above, it can be understood that in the decision-making

process, women need to be involved. Especially when the decision relates to problems faced

by women such as gang rape. The involvement of women in making these decisions should not

be underestimated, especially in matters that only women experience, so women must make

their choices. Then women also need to be involved so that the resulting policies do not have

a discriminatory impact on women. In this case, the struggle of women's groups and the

involvement of the state in solving problems must be seen carefully and the meaning of

women's involvement must be understood in decision-making is mandatory to ensure the

creation of social justice.

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