Who We Are

The National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) 

Profile

The National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) is an independent institution for the enforcement of women’s human rights in Indonesia. It was established through Presidential Decree (Keppres) No. 181 of 1998, on October 9, 1998, which was strengthened by Presidential Regulation (Perpres) No. 65 of 2005 juncto Presidential Regulation No. 8 of 2024 on Amendments to Presidential Regulation No. 65 of 2005 on the National Commission on Violence Against Women. 

Komnas Perempuan was born from civil society’s demands, especially the women’s movement, for the government to fulfill its responsibility in addressing and responding to violence against women. These demands stemmed from tragedies of sexual violence experienced primarily by ethnic Chinese women during the May 1998 riots that occurred in various major cities across Indonesia. 

More natural if written as: In accordance with the general criteria developed in the Paris Principles, Komnas Perempuan has grown into a national human rights mechanism for women.  

Komnas Perempuan's active role has made it a model for various parties in developing and strengthening human rights mechanisms that advance efforts to eliminate violence against women at  local, national, regional, and international levels. 

THE BASIS OF KOMNAS PEREMPUAN’S FRAMEWORK: 

• The Constitution, namely the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia
• Law No. 7 of 1984 on the Ratification of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW)
• Law No. 5 of 1998 on the Ratification of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT)
• The International Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women, as well as other policies on human rights 

KOMNAS PEREMPUAN’S OBJECTIVES: 

1. Develop conditions which are conducive to the elimination of all forms of violence against women and the fulfillment of women's human rights in Indonesia;
2. Increase efforts to prevent and tackle all forms of violence against women and protect women's human rights in Indonesia. 

MANDATE AND AUTHORITY: 

1. Spread understanding of all forms of violence against women in Indonesia and efforts to prevent, tackle, and eliminate all forms of violence against women;
2. Conduct studies and research on various applicable laws and regulations, as well as various international instruments relevant to the protection of women's human rights;
3. Conduct monitoring, including fact-finding and documentation of violence against women and violations of women's human rights, as well as disseminating the results of the monitoring to the public and taking steps to encourage accountability and handling;
4. Provide advice and opinion to the government, legislative and judicial institutions, and civil society organizations to encourage the development and ratification of legal and policy frameworks that support efforts to prevent and tackle all forms of violence against women, as well as the protection, enforcement, and advancement of women's human rights;
5. Develop regional and international cooperation to increase efforts to prevent and tackle all forms of violence against women in Indonesia, as well as the protection, enforcement and advancement of women's human rights. 

KOMNAS PEREMPUAN’S ROLES: 

• Monitor and report on gender-based human rights violations and the fulfillment of women victims' rights;
• Resource center on women's human rights;
• Initiator of change and policy formulation;
• Bridging between the government, victim communities and women's human rights activists, with an emphasis on the fulfillment of the state's responsibility to uphold human rights and restore victims' rights;
• Facilitator of network development and strengthening at local, national, regional, and international levels of the prevention, capacity building, and elimination of all forms of violence against women. 

VISION STATEMENT: 

To build national consensus and drive reforms regarding the prevention of violence against women, the protection of women, and recovery of  women victims of violence, within a gender-sensitive and cross-border human rights framework and integrating women's leadership. 

MISSION STATEMENT: 

1. Encourage the development of a national policy framework and support for civil society organizations by developing a comprehensive and inclusive recovery system model for women victims of violence;
2. Establish standard-setting for preventing violence against women that will be used by communities, the state, and corporations;
3. Strengthen the infrastructure of cross-border movements to increase the movement's resource capacity and collective action to eliminate violence against women;
4. Increase state and societal support for strengthening women's leadership in all areas, including protection for women human rights defenders;
5. Strengthen the responsiveness, influence, and governance of Komnas Perempuan, as a form of accountability for human rights mechanisms, particularly the elimination of violence against women, in an effort to encourage the protection and advancement of women's human rights, strengthen the responsiveness, influence, and governance of Komnas Perempuan, as a form of accountability for human rights mechanisms.  

CORE VALUES: 

In running its organization and activities, Komnas Perempuan adheres to seven (7) core values: 

1. humanity – that every person must be respected as a whole human being, with the same dignity and worth, without exception.
2. gender equality and justice – that the relationship between men and women is essentially equal and that all social structures, including organizational systems and cultures, that are being develop ensure that there is no discrimination and oppression based on assumptions about the unequal roles of men and women.
3. diversity – that differences based on ethnicity, race, religion, belief, and culture are something that must be respected, even proud of, and that the that differences based on ethnicity, race, religion, belief, and culture are something that must be respected, even proud of, as if managed well, significant diversity can be the strength of a community or organisation.  
4. solidarity – that togetherness between parties who share the same vision and mission, including activists and victims, between local, national, and international levels, and between organizations from different backgrounds, is something that must be continuously created, maintained, and developed because no one party can succeed in achieving the goal of realizing a just and prosperous society alone.
5. independence – that an independent position is achieved when there is freedom and other conditions which are conducive for an institution to act according to the needs and interests of upholding women's human rights without pressure and obligations that could distance the institution from its vision and mission.
6. accountability – that transparency and responsibility to constituents and the wider community are obligations of every public institution and must be implemented through clear mechanisms.
7. anti-violence and anti-discrimination – that, in the process of organizing, negotiating, and working, there will be no actions that contain elements of violence or discrimination against any party.