Gender-Based Violence, Not Just Hasyim Asy'ari, Regional KPU Was Also Accused

Gender-based violence involving election organizers is not only at the national level, it also occurs at regional levels.

KOMPAS/RADITYA HELABUMI (RAD)

Illustration. Participants of a rally carried signs calling for an end to sexual violence during a demonstration commemorating International Women's Day in Taman Aspirasi, across from the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Sunday (08/03/2020).

JAKARTA, KOMPAS - Gender-based violence in the implementation of elections is suspected to not only occur in the case involving the Chairman of the General Election Commission, Hasyim Asy'ari. Several cases involving power relations and unfair gender regulations have been reported and are being monitored by several institutions.

Commissioner of the National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan), Siti Aminah Tardi, stated that they define gender-based violence during elections through various examples of cases, such as unwanted sexual advances and comments. Intimidation and threats are also included in the category of gender-based violence.

Referring to reports submitted by the community to the National Commission on Violence Against Women from 2020 to April 2024, cases of gender-based violence under the organization's monitoring can be categorized into several groups. Firstly, based on their connection to election regulations. Secondly, related to suspected perpetrators.

Cases involving alleged perpetrators, for example, involve the Chairman of the General Election Commission (KPU), Hasyim Asy'ari. Hasyim was recently reported by the public to the Election Organizer Honorary Council (DKPP) on Thursday (April 17, 2024) for suspected acts of indecency towards members of the overseas election organizing committee (PPLN). This is the second report after Hasyim was given a final stern warning by DKPP in April 2023. Last year, Hasyim was reported to have committed acts of indecency towards Hasnaeni, the Chairman of the Republic One Party.

Also read: DKPP Follows Up on Alleged Immoral Acts of KPU Chairman, Hasyim Still Silent

KOMPAS/SONYA HELLEN SINOMBOR

Commissioner of the National Commission on Violence Against Women, Siti Aminah Tardi

"There are also reports of sexual harassment during health checks conducted by Bawaslu (Election Supervisory Agency) in various regions," she said in an online discussion titled "Realizing a Fair Gender Electoral Organizer Ecosystem", on Friday (18/4/2024).

Happened at the regional KPU

Secretary General of Indonesian Women's Coalition, Mike Verawati, who was also present as a speaker at the discussion, stated that gender-based violence involving election organizers is not only happening at the national level. Her organization also received reports of similar cases involving officials in the South Labuhan Batu district election commission, North Sumatra. In that case, the perpetrator was suspected of luring and intimidating the victim within a power dynamic that was imbalanced.

In a broader context, various forms of sexual harassment and sexist jokes occur very often. It is as if it is a culture that is difficult to change within the scope of election organizers.

Therefore, according to Mike, the second report against Hasyim Asy'ari should serve as a stern reminder for the organization of elections. There must be a decisive action taken as cases of gender-based violence involving election organizers have occurred repeatedly. "In a larger context, various forms of sexual harassment and sexist jokes happen very often. It's like a culture that's difficult to change within the scope of the election organizers," he said.

RINI KUSTIASIH

Secretary General of the Indonesian Women's Coalition (KPI) Mike Verawati Tangka.

Apart from those involving organizers, according to reports received by the National Commission on Violence Against Women, gender-based violence also occurs in relation to electoral regulations, for example, concerning KPU Regulation Number 10 of 2023 regarding Nomination for Members of the DPR, Provincial DPRD, and Regency/City DPRD. The regulation was once sued by civil society for reducing the fulfillment of the 30 percent quota for women's representation in legislative member elections.

Improve recruiting

Both Siti Aminah and Mike see that the election management ecosystem must be rebuilt to be free from gender-based violence. This needs to start by improving recruitment of potential members of the General Elections Commission, both at the national and regional levels. A fair gender perspective should already be part of the assessment since the beginning of the selection process.

"Candidates must be free from a track record of gender-based violence in the form of physical, psychological, social, and economic violence," said Siti Aminah, giving an example of one of the requirements needed when recruiting potential members of the KPU.

Not only for KPU candidate members, according to Mike, a similar thing also needs to be applied to the selection team or selection committee. The track record of the selection team that is taken into account should not only be related to their professionalism, but also ethics and morality.

KOMPAS/RADITYA HELABUMI (RAD)

Illustration. Women workers from various groups held a demonstration commemorating International Women's Day in Taman Aspirasi, across from Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Sunday (8/3/2020).

"The selection process has also been a problem because the selection committee consists mainly of men, who often assess female candidates with an unfair gender perspective and bring up unfounded issues related to women, such as women being prone to being tired, and others," said Mike.

Komnas HAM commissioner, Anis Hidayah, stated that the case involving Hasyim Asy'ari was one of the points discussed by her agency during the evaluation of the election implementation. Komnas HAM empathizes with the victims and is guided by Law Number 12 of 2022 Concerning Sexual Violence Crimes (UU TPKS) to use a fair gender perspective, including listening to and believing the victims. The spirit of UU TPKS should also be used in all institutions, including election organizers.

According to Anis, the principles of organizing elections have been comprehensively regulated, including provisions that require election organizers to have integrity, honesty, and fairness. In this context, the fairness referred to includes gender fairness, so election organizers must be able to anticipate cases of sexual violence.

Also read: TPN Ganjar-Mahfud Supports Legal Process for Alleged Immoral Acts of KPU Chairperson

KOMPAS/HENDRA A SETYAWAN

Anis Hidayah

"The TPKS Law contains a strong message that this law must be internalized in state and non-state institutions to ensure that every government administration must ensure that there is no abuse of power and sexual violence. "Internal regulations in each agency must be encouraged to internalize the values ​​in the TPKS Law," said Anis.