Violence against women is among the most wide-spread human rights violations globally, including in Indonesia. Numerous studies from the around the globe also confirm the links between violence against HIV. Women living with HIV are more likely to have experienced violence, and that, women who have experienced violence are more likely to have HIV infection.
To further discuss about vulnerability of women to violence and HIV, the ILO in collaboration with the Ministry of Manpower and the Ministry of Health conducted a webinar, “Why do women still struggle with vulnerability against violence and HIV”, on 3 November. The webinar reached a viewership of more than 350 people.
The webinar marked the third webinar out of the eight webinars conducted by the ILO and its social partners to raise the public awareness about HIV/AIDS at the workplace and its linkage to the occupational safety and health (OSH). Covering various issues from youth, women to workplace best practices and government’s commitment, these webinars have been conducted from mid of October to the World AIDS Day on 1 December.
Vulnerability of women to violence and HIV
“When a women experience violence, she not only suffers from multiple layers of injustice, which includes restriction in mobility, access to health services and education, she also become more vulnerable to HIV that deprives her from the opportunity to participate in public life and economic activities,” said Early D. Nuriana, the ILO’s programme coordinator on HIV, when presenting the ILO’s Recommendation No. 200 on HIV/AIDS and world of work and the latest ILO’s
Violence and Harassment Convention No. 190/2019.
Due to their HIV status, they got double violence and blamed when seeking help. Thus, IPPI is calling for a HIV-friendly service to help these women.”
Baby Rivona Nasution, an HIV activist of the Association of Positive Women Indonesia (IPPI)
Baby Rivona Nasution, an HIV activist of the Association of Positive Women Indonesia (IPPI), presented the latest mini survey conducted by IPPI for its members, covering eight cities. The survey found that majority of its members experience at least one if not all types of violence from verbal, physical, sexual and reproductive abuses.
Most of these abused victims preferred to keep silence as they faced even a greater discrimination when trying to report their cases to the authorities or seeking help to medical services. “Due to their HIV status, they got double violence and blamed when seeking help. Thus, IPPI is calling for a HIV-friendly service to help these women,” said Baby.
Safe migration should be viewed in a holistic way by providing a proper training not only for working skills, but also for giving them better knowledge on reproductive health and HIV prevention in each migration cycle.”
Anis Hidayah, Head of Study Department of Migrant Care
From the perspective of migrant workers, Anis Hidayah, Head of Study Department of Migrant Care, shared the vulnerability of migrant workers to sexual harassment and HIV. Cultural taboos and religious beliefs, tying together with a sense of shame and secrecy, have inhibited proper education about reproductive health and safe sex for potential migrant workers before working afar from their families in destination countries.
“Safe migration is still limited to administrative procedures. Violence and HIV vulnerabilities are potentially occurred in each of migration cycle. Safe migration should be viewed in a holistic way by providing a proper training not only for working skills, but also for giving them better knowledge on reproductive health and HIV prevention in each migration cycle,” stated Anis.
Promoting a free-harassment workplace
This programme provides a good understanding about equality, violence, sexual harassment and ways to prevent or solve them as part of the company’s programme. The result is not only the positive changes in working environment, but also changes in the surrounding community.”
Shelly Woyla, Gender Focal Point of the ILO’s Better Work Indonesia (BWI) programme
Workers in garment sector who predominantly are women also face similar vulnerability to violence and HIV. However, Shelly Woyla, Gender Focal Point of the ILO’s Better Work Indonesia (BWI) programme, said that BWI has initiated a programme that promotes awareness about gender-based violence, including HIV: Respectful Workplace Programme (RWP).
“This programme involves commitment from all levels leadership of the company from the CEO, supervisors and the workers themselves. This programme provides a good understanding about equality, violence, sexual harassment and ways to prevent or solve them as part of the company’s programme. The result is not only the positive changes in working environment, but also changes in the surrounding community,” explained Shelly.
The workplace education programme at PT USG includes HIV socialization (c) ILO/F. Latief
One of the BWI’s companies that have implemented this programme was PT Ungaran Sari Garment (USG) in Semarang, Central Java. With a total of 300 workers of whom 95 percent women, PT USG has inserted the HIV protection in its Collective Labour Agreement (PKB), provided information on HIV and workplace issues and establish other health services for women workers such as pregnancy programme.
We want to create a working environment where workers feel protected and comfortable and they also feel respected in equal working environment, including for workers with HIV.”
Nur Arifin, Senior Manager for Human Resources and Compliance of PT USG
“We want to create a working environment where workers feel protected and comfortable and they also feel respected in equal working environment, including for workers with HIV,” shared Nur Arifin, Senior Manager for Human Resources and Compliance of PT USG.
The webinar was concluded with the review of existing laws and regulations related to the protection of women workers. Tresye Widiastuty Paidi, a labour inspector of the Ministry of Manpower, presented various relevant laws and regulations. However, she admitted the existing law has not yet provided adequate sanctions. Although the article No. 6 of Labour Law No.13/2003 has regulated about equal treatment without discrimination, in the implementation the sanction given is only administration sanction.
“Lack of openness, shame and secrecy have made women to keep their problems against violence and HIV to themselves. We need to break this cycle,” she concluded.
