By : Ratnasari Nugraheni
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A number of activists from DIY and Centrak Java gathered in Yogyakarta landsmark Tugu on Saturday March 8, celebrating the International Women’s Day (IWD). As many as 50 people gathered around tugu at 08.30 am (GMT+7). Wearing red and white outift, they posed several banners and distributed stickers voicing their concern on rape.

The action, initiated by the Women Advocacy Community (Link-AP), took the theme of “Smart Election, Safe Indonesian Women from Sexual Abused.” The activists in general highlighted that legislative candidates should pay more attention to survivors. Upon their speech, they mentioned that (1) rapist should receive harsher sentence; (2) the government should come up with a specific law on sexual abuse; (3) the government should ratify the draft bill on gender and justice equality (RUU KKG); (4) the government should assure the 12 rights of women sexual health and reproduction; (5) people should vote legislative candidates that concern fighting violence against women; (6) and people should vote candidates that are aware towards women rights.

“The vision and mission of IWD this year are to persuade all people to safe women and choose the right candidate, especially the one having some interest on women issues”, said Maria Suciati, the activist coordinator. She added that the action on Tugu was not the beginning, peak, or ending of IWD. The overall struggle aims to support women from injustice, where all people should be involved in realizing itr – particularly the leaders and government.