Underreporting of rape in Indonesia : a study on the perspective of counselors working in women crisis centers

Abstract

Underreporting of rape is a serious issue that adversely effects on addressing the problem of rape by undermining the severity of the problem. Despite the high incidence of estimated severe sexual assault like rape, underreporting is massive and perpetuated by a culture of rape myths that are pervasive across the region in general, but more especially in Indonesia. The aim of this study was to investigate the factors that substantially contribute in creating an environment of underreporting, with the intention to explore multiple factors without limiting the study to stigmatization of victims only. This study, therefore, focused on analyzing the perspective of the counselors of women crisis centers who work with victims of rape in assisting them to get psychological help and also facilitate the victims in the legal proceedings. The study undertook semi-structured interviews with four informants and a questionnaire from one informant from the first women crisis center established in Indonesia, called Rifka Annisa situated in Yogyakarta. The study of counselors gave the researcher an opportunity to understand the problem of underreporting of rape in a wider context including both victim's perspective in non-complaints of rape and also analyze the institutional challenges and barriers that contribute in creating a culture of underreporting in Indonesia. The study revealed that in addition to stigmatization of victims that discourages women to report the offence of rape, there were also other factors linked with victim's experience with law and police that either forced or persuaded them to withdraw their complaint report, or compelled them to dismiss their complaint in a groundless base. The study showed that there is a pressing need to look into the loopholes of rape laws and enact policies within the justice system to make it more victim friendly rather than antagonizing victims in the due process of law. Looking into the three major problems identified: stigmatization of rape victims, institutional barriers and bias, and inadequate policies and regulation, the study recommends the need for community level intervention to raise awareness and destigmatize both social and institutional entities, initiate reform in rape laws, and make the use of laws victim oriented.