AIVC July 2021 Policy Recommendation

DEPARTMENT OF ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES ALSA INTERNATIONAL BOARD 2020/2021

ALSA INTERNATIONAL VIDEO CONFERENCE

AIVC JULY 2021

POLICY RECOMMENDATION

GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE IN ASIA

J U L Y

1 7 T H

2 0 2 1

According to the definition provided by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), gender-based violence consists of sexual, physical, mental, and economic harm inflicted in public or private which includes threats of violence, coercion, and manipulation. It can take many forms such as intimate-partner violence, sexual violence, child marriage, female genital mutilation, so-called “honorkilling” and so on. According to the interviews conducted with 10,000 men in 6 Asian and Pacific countries, the results revealed gender inequalities and the complex interplay of factors at the individual, relationship, community, and greater society levels and the main reasons for men’s violence against women.

The Asia Foundation’s recent report, “The State of Conflict and Violence in Asia,” finds that gender-based violence is one of the deadliest forms of violence in the region.

With all gender-based violence issues in Asia, domestic violence at the workplace is one of the issues which needs more attentiveness. In general, domestic violence at the workplace can be committed by someone in the organizational structure who has the power to control the victim’s job appraisals such as the manager of the company or someone else with whom the victim comes into contacts such as the co-worker, customer, patient, delivery person, and others. Based on the research report released by The Asia Foundation which deals with the impact of domestic violence on the workplace in China, 13.3% of respondents have experienced domestic violence in the past 12 months, and nearly half of these survivors have experienced domestic violence in the workplace. In addition, 56.4% have witnessed domestic violence suffered by acquaintances, and 65.8% of these witnesses have seen the victims continue to be abused by their partners in the workplace.

I N T R O D U C T I O N

POLICY RECOMMENDATION | 1

Besides, it should be noted that most countries in Asia have laws against domestic violence but nearly all laws exclude unmarried intimate partners. Panelist Paula Tavares shared research conducted by the World Bank’s Women, Business, and Law team on legal protections against domestic violence and sexual harassment. She reported that all countries in South Asia (five in total) and the East Asia and Pacific (EAP, 17 countries in total) have laws against domestic violence. But the composition and specific protections outlined in these laws differ across countries. Although it is widely recognized that domestic violence can include physical, sexual, psychological, and economic violence, half of the countries that have domestic violence laws do not include protections against economic violence. While domestic violence laws in South Asia include protections against sexual and economic abuse, 74% of women (age 15+) in the EAP are not protected from sexual violence and 76% of women are not protected from economic violence. There is also variation in who is protected by such laws. Across Asia, most laws do not protect unmarried partners.

88% of women in the EAP and 100% in South Asia have not been protected against domestic violence by an unmarried intimate partner.

With the concern of gender-based violence in Asia, the question of how human rights are translated into binding laws which protect the right of protection from sexual violence rises.

Not only that, the question of what can be done in an effort to enforce those laws on a practical level through developments is also something to be discussed. It is undoubted that this issue is an important aspect of people’s lives and well-being.

Protection of gender-based violence will serve as a way to protect the harmonious and safe environment for the future and continuity of people’s lives.

POLICY RECOMMENDATION | 2

RECOMMENDATIONS Based on the elaborated introduction and remembering the prevalence of gender-based violence issues in Asia, the followings are policy recommendations made by the participants of AIVC July 2021 during the discussion session which in general could be divided to recommendation through the education and institutional aspects: A. EDUCATION 1. To implement education on gender equality since elementary school as well as making gender education mandatory for all children, students, teachers, parents, professionals, and everyone including providing training to teachers and admin to deal with genderbased violence survivors which also includes professional gender education courses for children.

2. To incorporate the regulations against gender-based violence into the curriculum since Junior High School and Senior High School including sex education as a subject in secondary school courses.

3. To discuss gender inequality and risks from harassment or violence.

Such violence shall be prevented through education systems where counseling courses should be given much more attention.

4. To raise the awareness of gender stereotyping along with its impact on gender-based violence.

POLICY RECOMMENDATION | 3

5. To encourage education on gender-based violence from family institutions through seminars in small villages.

R E C O M M E N D A T I O

B. INSTITUTIONALLY 1. To provide comprehensive support mechanisms to empower and promote as well as respect women's and children's rights. Such as providing legal services to women and children who are victims and/or survivors of gender-based violence, providing psychosocial programs and support services for women in the workplace.

2. To make available the guidelines for handling domestic violence cases by type and stage of crime as well as reliable on-site measures.

3. To encourage the government to robustly fund the creation of women's and children's desks in police precincts. In addition, this desk must be advocated well in which could help anyone at first aid by partnering with a community agency. An emergency line to reach this desk should also be provided.

4. To encourage the government to fund the creation of the Juvenile and Family Courts so as to not stay stagnant to the dockets of regular courts.

N S POLICY RECOMMENDATION | 4

SIGNATORIES Signed by, The Director of Academic Publications ALSA International Board 2020/2021 representing participants of AIVC July 2021 Vice President of Academic Activities ALSA International Board 2020/2021 Collaborating National Chapters (NC) ALSA NC Malaysia ALSA NC Singapore ALSA NC Myanmar ALSA NC Indonesia

July 17th 2021

POLICY RECOMMENDATION | 5

AIVC JULY 2021

GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE IN ASIA

J U L Y

1 7 T H

2 0 2 1