Ambon – Student activists from the Student Struggle Center for National Liberation (PEMBEBASAN) held a protest action on the main road in front of the Sirimau Sectoral Police Headquarters (Mapolsek) in Ambon, Maluku, on Friday March 8.

During the action, the students called for women’s rights in the context of commemorating International Women’s Day (IWD).

A number of important points were conveyed during the action, including among others, that the state must fully investigate cases of rape, including past sexual crimes committed by the military. Second, they demanded the repeal of all regional bylaws that discriminate against women. Third, that justice and rehabilitation be provided to victims of sexual violence. Fourth, for an end to all forms of negative labeling against victims. And fifth, that it is time for women to leave the home and build an organisation and movement to create a government that is democratic, just and equitable.

After giving speeches for around one hour, the demonstrators then held a march along Jl. AY. Patty.

According to data from the National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan), between 1998 and 2010, rape has been the predominant form of sexual violence against women, occurring in 4,845 out of 8,784 cases. And more than three-quarters of all cases of sexual violence, as many as 70,115 out of 93,960 cases, are committed by people close to the victims such as fathers, husbands, older brothers, uncles, grandfathers and boyfriends. (Tiar)

[Hari Perempuan Nasional di Warnai Aksi Demo – Moluken.com. March 8 2012. Translated by James Balowski.]