Belenggu Adat Dan Kekerasan Terhadap Perempuan

The number of women who complain about actions of violence committed against them has tended to increase in the recent past. Various forms of violence occur both in urban and rural areas. Violence, sexual and otherwise, afflicts urban women more than rural women. As regards the perpetrator, actions of sexually-related violence against women are often committed by people un-known to the victims, who therefore do not feel any moral guilt consequent upon their actions. Non-sexual violence on the other hand, is often committed by people known to the victims. This phenomenon, thus, underscores the difficulty women encounter in their efforts to avoid violence, especially the nonsexual form, since even those people close to them, have the potential of becoming perpetrators.

While violence against women in rural areas occurs almost entirely among the same ethnic group, violence in urban areas being caused by complex and various motives occurs across ethnic lines. Violence against women is to a large extent caused by the discrepancy in the social relationship which often results into the subordination and marginalization of women. Besides, violence against women is also attributable to the conduct of some members of society, who after drinking alcoholic drinks indulge in reprehensible acts.

The existence of government and non-government institutions such as non-governmental organizations, and customs institutions have not tackle the violence against women in urban as well as in rural areas. Though customs institutions are often used to resolve a variety of issues, women who become victims of violence have been reluctant to take cases of violence to it in their endeavor to obtain justice. The lack of accommodation for women interests in the institution underlies one of the causes responsible for the increase in the intensity of violence afflicting women in Papua. This research will delve into the forms of violence, intensity, factors responsible, the perpetrators, effects to the victims, as well as the responses given by the people of Papua towards violent act. This article also describes various forms of discrimination in various aspects of life, which increase the susceptibility of Papua women to various forms of violence.

Key word: Violence, Sexual, Institutions