The scourge of femicide: How do we address violence against women in Indonesia?

Last month, an 18-year-old Indonesian woman was found naked, dead and buried in a plantation in an area of West Sumatra. She had been reported missing a couple of days earlier. The woman, named Nia Kurnia Sari, had been working as a travelling street vendor selling fried snacks.

A 28-year-old man has since been detained over her alleged murder.

Sadly, this isn’t an isolated case. Violence against women, including femicide – defined by the UN as intentional killing with a gender-related motivation – is a significant problem in Indonesia and many other countries around the world, including Australia.

The long-term social and psychological impacts of this violence are devastating for those affected. They include enduring trauma, grief and fear, as well as deepened mistrust in social and justice systems.

There are many aspects of society that need to change if we’re to address the systemic and social reasons behind this crisis.

Femicide on the rise

My research focuses on Indonesia, and it’s concerning to me that the number of reported femicide cases in Indonesia has been increasing in recent years, although reliable statistics aren’t easily available.

Reliable statistics on violence against women are incredibly difficult to obtain anywhere in the world because of the shame and stigma associated with reporting.

The difficulty of collecting reliable statistics in Indonesia is compounded by the fact the Indonesian justice system doesn’t recognise femicide as a distinct crime. Rather, it’s often mischaracterised as an individual crime, framed within the context of domestic violence or jealousy.

Read more: A United Nations roadmap to fighting back against femicide

Framing femicide as an individual crime related to personal issues or jealousy obscures its systemic roots in gender inequality and patriarchal power structures.

To help provide a clearer picture of the prevalence of femicide, the National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) is calling for the Indonesian government to maintain a database in the country.

This call is one important step towards recognising the specific nature of the crime and addressing its drivers. However, tackling the femicide crisis requires a sustained, multidimensional approach that’s based on evidence of what works.

Entrenched gender inequality

There are many social and systemic reasons why femicide continues to blight Indonesia. To combat the high rates of gender-based violence, we need to acknowledge the connection to entrenched gender inequality, and address the cultural norms and policies that perpetuate such violence.

Gender-based violence is exacerbated by deeply-rooted gender inequality, where patriarchal norms and societal expectations devalue women and perpetuate violence against them. Contributing factors include toxic masculinity, control over women’s autonomy, and a culture of impunity that often fails to hold perpetrators accountable.

Shame is also a reason why women and their families are afraid to report such crime, because women themselves are often blamed for it.

Indonesian women experience high rates of domestic violence, economic dependency and weak enforcement of protective laws – all these factors increase the risk of femicide.

Read more: Unifying media approaches to address the violence against women crisis

Indonesia remains a very patriarchal society. Patriarchy plays a significant role in femicide, as it creates an environment where women are often viewed as subordinate and vulnerable, leading to their devaluation and increasing their risk of violence.

Misogyny, or the hatred of women, is deeply rooted in patriarchal beliefs. Misogyny fosters attitudes that justify and normalise violence against women.

Thus, misogyny and patriarchal systems are closely related, with misogyny serving as a manifestation of patriarchal values that perpetuate gender-based violence, including femicide.

Legal frameworks lacking

Compounding the problem, the Indonesian justice system often suffers from inadequate legal frameworks. When victim-survivors interact with the system, there’s often a lack of sensitivity in handling gender-based violence cases, and a culture of victim-blaming, which can deter survivors from seeking justice.

We can learn much from countries that have implemented comprehensive legal protections, established specialised training for law enforcement, and created supportive environments for victims, including accessible reporting mechanisms and victim support services.

Additionally, fostering community awareness and engagement can help change societal attitudes toward gender-based violence, ensuring victims are supported and empowered to come forward.

Read more: Women bear the brunt of Asia’s climate failures

Prevention efforts should prioritise challenging harmful gender norms and toxic masculinity through education, public awareness and community engagement.

The media has an important role to play in shaping more supportive and sensitive public discourse. To minimise public scrutiny of femicide victims, the media should focus on reporting the facts of the case without sensationalising details or portraying the victim in a negative light.

The media can help by emphasising the broader context of violence against women and the systemic issues at play. It should use trauma-informed language, respect the dignity of victims, and avoid victim-blaming narratives.

Open discussion is vital

Open and responsible discussion of these issues in the public domain is vital for reducing the stigma regarding domestic violence and supporting families to recognise the risks and seek support.

It will help families to be more aware of early signs that can lead to violence against women, including controlling behaviour, emotional manipulation, verbal abuse, isolation from support networks, and threats or aggression.

The family plays a crucial role in supporting victims of domestic abuse and reducing the risk of femicide. They can do this by providing emotional, physical and financial support, encouraging victim-survivors to seek help, and creating a safe environment.

To effectively prevent femicide, we must acknowledge its connection to entrenched gender inequality, and focus on addressing the cultural norms and policies that perpetuate such violence. It requires a comprehensive approach that addresses the root cases of gender-based violence while ensuring justice for victims.