Wednesday, March 8, 2016, Rifka Annisa along with the network organized a protest in Wonosari, Gunungkidul, Yogyakarta. The protest highlighted a theme on 'Silence Is Not A Solution, Addressing the High Score Pregnancy and Sexual Violence against Children in Gunungkidul'.As this day was the International Women’s Day and in order to attract attention to cases of teenage pregnancy and sexual violence against children in Gunungkidul the action was conducted by various organizations and joined by the community.

In the district of Gunungkidul the number of cases of teenage pregnancy and sexual violence against adolescents and children increases. There is also a problem with cases of child labor and dissolutions of marriages that are in part submitted because of cases of extramarital pregnancy. Cases of sexual violence in the district of Gunungkidul that enter Rifka Annisa WCC are cases in which most victims are still adolescents and children. In order to be successful it is required to work together. To prevent cases of pregnancy and sexual violence against children the cooperation between parents, teachers, the village government and the society is necessary. As it is not wanted that the children of Gunungkidul become the victim of pregnancy and sexual violence, the function of the education, the responsibility of the society and the bureaucratic commitment has to be strengthened.

Rifka Annisa’s action took place in order to reach these goals. There were many banners that supported to attract attention and spread the message. During the action various people gave speeches to advocate the elimination of sexual violence against children in Gunungkidul. As a result many people viewed the action and listened to the orations curiously to obtain information and to be able to communicate. []

Writer: Lisa Hallmann, student of Ethnology at the University of Heidelberg, Faculty of Behavioral and Cultural Studies, Institute of Ethnology