VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

Mar. 9 - Minister of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection, I Gusti Ayu Bintang Darmawati, has said cases of online violence against women have increased with the rise in use of information technology amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Cases of violence are increasingly having various modes, the risk of online violence against women is increasing along with the increasing use of information technology during the pandemic," Minister Bintang Darmawati said while opening a webinar entitled ‘Protect Women from Violence - Dare to Speak Up’ in Jakarta on Monday.

In addition, during 2020, the majority of cases of violence against women involved domestic violence, she informed.

"The majority of cases are in the domestic realm; deeper psychological pressures accompany survivors, especially those facing various restrictions to leave the house due to the pandemic," she said.

The Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection is continuing to fight for the principle of gender equality, she added.

However, currently, violence befalling women is still occurring at an alarming rate, she observed.

Therefore, the ministry is encouraging women and the surrounding community to have courage and report cases involving violence against them or other women.

Minister Bintang Darmawati also invited inter-ministries and agencies, local governments, and the business world to work together to handle cases of violence against women and children in Indonesia.

"Together we must protect them, make them empowered to speak up, and fight for themselves. Without this empowerment, women will continue to be trapped in a cycle of repeated violence even after receiving help. To achieve this, we must play our respective roles, (we) must join hands to build a system that is friendly to women,” she urged. (antaranews)