Government of Indonesia and civil society organization have been doing many efforts to eliminate violence against women. However, violence against women is persistent. One of NGO that sustain effort to help women survivor of violence is Rifka Annisa, the first women’s crisis center in Indonesia. Working about 25 years in providing services and advocacy for violence against women cases, Rifka Annisa is welcomed everyone who want to learn and discuss about gender equality and violence against women problems in Indonesia. I was given the opportunity to talk with a counsellor of Rifka Annisa regarding this issue. This is my report…

On Friday the 27th of April, a group of students studying International Relations came to Rifka Annisa to learn about gender-based violence as part of their Introduction to Peace Studies class. The presentation was facilitated by Mbak One (Defirentia One), and incorporated an interactive approach to learning through encouraging group discussions and input, discussing topics utilising visual props, and reflective learning through role play activities. The interactive approach helped to keep students engaged throughout the entire session, and encouraged a critical thinking approach to gender-based violence, as students were able to understand the topic more clearly and reflect upon their…

On Friday the 20th of April, Rifka Annisa delivered a presentation on program planning, development and evaluation, to a group of University students from a social development planning class. Background information was provided to students regarding Rifka Annia’s history, organizational purpose, vision and mission, and the types of services and programs that are provided. Students were then asked the question “is violence against women a myth or a fact?” One male student declared he believed this statement was a myth, justifying his response by suggesting women’s reports of violence are not necessarily fact, but rather a personal perception of a…