Every woman and child has the right to a safe life free of violence, discrimination and fear. Yet the fact is that to date violence against women and children continues to occur and become serious problem that stall social justice and welfare. A sense of safety – physically, pschologically, and socially – is a basic right that many women and children have not enjoyed in Indonesia, including in Central Java and particularly in Surakarta City.
Online Information System data suggests on Protection for Women and Children (Simfoni PPA) notes thousands of cases of violence against women and children in Indonesia in 2024, and Central Java as one of the provinces with highest number of reported cases. These cases include physical, psychological, sexual violence, abandonment, and economic and digital exploitation. There are 2,600 cases of violence in Central Java by November 2025.
In Surakarta City, the Women Empowerment and Child Protection Agency and Populatin Control and Family Planning (DP3AP2KB) notes the trend of violence against children and women continue to occur every year, particularly in domestic domain and youth circle.
The phenomenon shows that the “safe”concept for women and children is not merely about the absence of violence, but also about being respected, accepted, and protected in every sphere of life, whether domestic, school, workplace, and public spheres for 24 hours everyday.
With this background , the Civil Society Coalition for Women and Children or Koalisi Masyarakat Sipil Peduli Perempuan dan Anak (Komasipera), with the support of Yayasan YAPHI, conducts discussion as part of the sixteen-day commemoration of anti-violence against women (HAKtP) at Yayasan YAPHI on Tuesday (25/11).
After an opening speech by Haryati Panca Putri, the director of Yayasan YAPHI, an observer of women and children issue, Vera Kartika Giyantari facilitates the discussion with 43 participants –from integrated service posts or Pos Pelayanan Terpadu (PPT) from urban communities and observers – and ask them to reflect and define what a safe space mean for women and children. A safe space for women and children includes freedom of threats, acts of violence, worry, uncomfortable, confused, afraid, anxious, stress, and deppression.
Vera Giyantari says that families should create a sense of safety and comfort, and control, in family members’ hands. This also applies in the workspace, offices, or schools and public facilities. But is it true that such a space is already available? Violence seems to increase as already stated above. "The task is: we must keep family security from threats to a family safety and comfort. To survive in a safe and comfortable situation is a matter of fight, "says Vera.
The discussion then continues with group discussion to further explore violence against women and children, by mapping problems in communities at the moment, and what is needed to ensure safe space and how to respond to the challenges. (Adi, Renny, Astuti)
