Strengthening Family Resilience

KOMPAS/SONYA HELLEN SINOMBOR

Suasana Diskusi Publik Hasil Penelitian Kekerasan Dalam Rumah Tangga (KDRT) “Kekerasan Sistemik yang Melanggengkan Penaklukan Perempuan” Refleksi 15 Tahun UU Penghapusan KDRT, oleh Perempuan Mahardhika diluncurkan, Kamis (13/2/2020) di Gedung Yayasan Lembaga Bantuan Hukum Jakarta

A number of field reports show that the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the dynamics of many families.

Reports from Wuhan, China, where the COVID-19 pandemic first broke out, show an increase in cases of domestic violence. The United Nations Organization for Women (UN Women), last March, also reported an increase in cases of domestic violence against women and girls in the Asia Pacific, including in Southeast Asia.

An increase in domestic violence cases has also been recorded in Indonesia since the government called on people to work from home. This was reported by advocacy organizations, such as the Institute for the Legal Aid Foundation of Indonesian Women\'s Association for Justice (LBH APIK), the Women\'s Empowerment and Child Protection Ministry and the National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan).

Also read: Family Resilience Tested

The increase in domestic violence cases is due to many things. Violence may have already been prevalent in the household prior to the imposition of large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) policy. The perpetrators and victims are forced to be in one house continuously. Domestic violence is only one of the impacts of the pandemic on families.

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced families to adjust amid loss of work and pay cuts. This situation concerns all levels of society, ranging from the poor, vulnerable middle class to the middle class.

Psychological pressure is not less severe. There is uncertainty because there is no certainty as to when the pandemic will end. Working from home causes changes in the way things work, including the possibility of reducing employees.

Kompas

illustration

This pandemic-related data demands for all families to be resilient and comply with the new patterns in society going forward.

The atmosphere at home will be more comfortable if everyone feels the burden is evenly distributed.

The enforcement of the PSBB shows that families that can survive are those whose members can carry out their respective roles equally and fairly. For families in which both husbands and wives work and have children, for example, sharing the task of accompanying the children to learn and play and taking care of household affairs will reduce the burden on wives, who are generally seen by the community as the ones responsible for taking care of children and taking care of the household as well. Likewise, the division of tasks is equal and fair between girls and boys. The atmosphere at home will be more comfortable if everyone feels the burden is evenly distributed.

The idea of an ideal family needs to be redefined by the government and all stakeholders.

Family members who respect each other, share responsibilities and duties equally and fairly, will make family life peaceful and produce citizens who are tolerant and responsible. We hope that the COVID-19 task force can coordinate measures to strengthen family resilience.