Rumah Pemilu Indonesia Election Portal
Kalyanamitra Knowledge Management Coordinator, Lailatin Mubarokah, said there are three categories of perpetrators of gender-based violence (KBG). The first category is political, social, and state. Perpetrators in this category include leaders and members of political parties, candidates, and party or candidate sympathizers who intimidate voters. Meanwhile, families and community leaders become KBG actors in the social sphere. In the country context, election organizers and state officials also carry out KBG in elections.
“From the social side, the closest environment, which is the family, being a KBG perpetrator is like not allowing wives to register as legislative candidates, forcing wives and daughters to follow their choices. Then community figures joined in, spreading narratives not to elect female legislative candidates. Then the state becomes part of the KBG actors in the election. “Election organizers from the start did not have a gender perspective, so many election implementation processes were vulnerable to KBG,” said Lailatin in the discussion “Monitoring Results of Gender-Based Violence in Elections in Indonesia” (24/6).
Responding to this, the Commissioner of the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM), Pramono Ubaid Tanthowi, believes that the Election Organizer Honorary Council (DKPP) should remove the Chairman of the Indonesian General Election Commission (KPU), Hasyim Asy’ari, over complaints of sexual harassment by the General Chair of the Republican Party. One, Hasnaeni, to the Election Organizer Honorary Council (DKPP). In DKPP Decision No. 35-PKE-DKPP/II/2023 and No. 39-PKE-DKPP/II/2023, although DKPP stated that it was not convinced by the occurrence of cases of sexual harassment, DKPP assessed that Hasyim violated professional principles by carrying out inappropriate communications. with potential election participants, thereby tarnishing the honor of the election organizing institution.
“DKPP also does not support proper action against KBG. The KPU chairman was proven to have committed sexual harassment but was not removed from his position as chairman. That’s really terrible; people who are proven to have committed ethical violations should be able to be coordinated. Remove his position as commissioner or chairman first, then investigate the crime. “So, at the central level, there is no perspective that supports women,” stressed Pramono.
According to Kalyanamitra, KBG in elections not only has a direct impact on the physical and psychological impact of victims but also on women’s participation. As a direct impact, women experience physical injuries and fatigue, as well as trauma and anxiety disorders. Meanwhile, as an indirect impact, women’s participation in politics is decreasing, so the number of women who sit in government is decreasing.
“The limited visibility of women and vulnerable groups in the party means that she is not widely known by the public. This has an impact on the small number of women and vulnerable groups who are finally selected. “This causes women’s perspectives in organizing elections and the country to be missed,” concluded Lailan. []
