Jakarta – Coinciding with Mother’s Day which falls on December 22 each year, hundreds of women marched to the State Palace in Central Jakarta to articulate demands related to women’s issues saying that government policies are still discriminative and do not support women. The action took up the theme Women Heal the Nation.

Jakarta – Mother’s Day, which is commemorated on December 22 each year, has different meanings. There are some who see it as a form of respect for the contribution by mothers and wives who struggle to take care of the family.

Leon Kastayudha – Indonesia celebrates National Mother’s Day on December 22nd. As in other countries, Mother’s Day is a mainstream commemoration filled with gestures of appreciation to mothers, flowers, and or other commercial gifts.

Deti Mega Purnamasari, Jakarta – The Draft Law on the Elimination of Sexual Violence (RUU PKS) has still not been ratified. The group Women’s Solidarity believes that this is because lawmakers in the House of Representatives (DPR) have no immediate interest in doing so.

Valda Kustarini, Jakarta – The National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) believes there is no relationship between the Draft Law on the Elimination of Sexual Violence (RUU PKS) and the Draft Criminal Code (RKUHP).

Yulida Medistiara, Jakarta – The Draft Law in the Elimination of Sexual Harassment (RUU-PKS) is still being deliberated by the House of Representatives (DPR). Women’s Solidarity Chairperson Dinda Nur Annisa Yura believes that this shows character of DPR members who are tolerant of sexual violence.

Afif – The North Aceh regency government has banned women and under age children from going out at night or roaming the streets during school hours without being accompanied by a mahram (husband or male family member) or their parents.

Jakarta – The National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) says that the Aceh Regional House of Representatives (DPRA) does not need to issue a regional regulation (qanun) on polygamy. Despite the current discourse on polygamy in Aceh the matter is clearly regulated under Law Number 1/1974 on Marriage.

Jakarta – The draft Aceh qanun (bylaw) legalising polygamy has attracted support and opposition. Some believe that the qanun needs to be supported providing that it includes stipulations on the husband behaving fairly towards his wives.

Jakarta – The Acehnese Regional House of Representatives (DPRA) is justifying a plan by the Aceh government to legalise polygamy on the grounds that it will save women and children who have fallen victim to nikah siri (common law marriage recognised by Islam).