Election Activists Affirm Zero Tolerance for Perpetrators of Violence Against Women

A number of election activists and women activists wrote an open letter to the Election Organizer Honorary Council (DKPP). They asked the DKPP to side with the victims and impose maximum sanctions on perpetrators of female violence. This is related to the DKPP’s current handling of cases of alleged violence against women committed by election organizers at the central and regional levels.

“We wrote this open letter solely because we believe that as an institution that enforces the ethics and honor of election organizers, the DKPP will fully act and act fairly in examining and deciding various cases of alleged violence against women handled by the DKPP,” wrote election activists in the “Open Letter for the DKPP,”  Jakarta (13/6).

They support DKPP to continue to be consistent and firm in maintaining the integrity, honor, independence, and credibility of election organizers through enforcing the code of ethics and behavioral guidelines for election organizers in a professional, credible, and integrity manner. According to them, violence against women is an act that cannot be forgiven because it harms democratic values, violates human rights, and is not in line with the principles of election management.

“Election organizers who commit violence against women constitute a serious violation of the code of ethics and behavioral guidelines for election organizers and must receive the maximum penalty in the form of permanent dismissal from membership,” he stressed.

Apart from that, they hope that DKPP can protect itself from various interventions and pressures that influence making decisions that are fair, firm, and have a deterrent effect on perpetrators. Because the DKPP should not allow the electoral work environment to endanger women through the presence of election organizers who commit violence against women.

“Because the presence of perpetrators with the authority and power of office that they have will be very dangerous and pose a big risk to efforts to create an election ecosystem that is safe, comfortable, and friendly towards fulfilling women’s rights,” he continued.

In the open letter, they fully support the DKPP in creating an election environment that is sterile for election organizers who commit violence against women. They also encouraged DKPP not to tolerate the slightest tolerance and to dare to take firm action with maximum ethical sanctions and a deterrent effect.

“We urge that this is the best moral and ethical lesson for all parties, especially the vertical and hierarchical ranks of election organizers, to never try to demean, let alone commit violence against, women,” he wrote. []