UNAIR NEWS – To celebrate Kartini’s Day on April 21, dozens of Psychiatry Program students of Faculty of Medicine Universitas Airlangga-RSUD Dr. Soetomo held a rally. They were wearing their traditional outfits to voice their fight against violence to women.

With banners and posters written with “Stop Violence to Women”, the students’ group rallied along Jalan Prof. Dr. Moestopo Surabaya, Friday, April 21. With the scorching heat of the day, the students distributed leaflets and shouted their fight against violence to women.

The head of Psychiatry program Nalini Muhdi, dr., SpKJ(K) with Vice Dean II FK UNAIR Prof. Dr. Budi Santoso, dr., SpOG(K) were also present. dr Nalini said that her unit celebrates Kartini’s Day annually with different events. This year they held it differently. If they usually held it indoor, this time Nalini took the students outside.

“Every year we always celebrate Kartini’s Day with a theme of women empowerment. We wore traditional outfits, either men or women. Some students event ordered Aceh traditional outfit from Aceh directly. They’re really dedicated for this,” she said.

This event is even livelier as there is a contest for the best outfit. There is a prize from the committee.

“Last year the theme was non-medical professions outfits. Some students became a pilot, an ojek driver. There is also a student became a spiritual practitioner (dukun) and one other became the demon. It was really fun,” she said.

Victims should Speak Up

This year’s event was not only about outfit peace rally, but there was also a mission to disseminate anti-violence to women.

“I have wanted to disseminate this topic, as in the last few years’ violence such as rapes, bullying, even domestic violence has been an attention to people,” she said.

In Indonesia, sexual violence was the first rank in the community scale at about 74 percent. The most cases are rapes, with 1,036 cases. It means there are 12 women are raped in one day. Ninety-three percent of rapes in Indonesia has never been reported. It happens because the victims do not speak up as they do not want to be blamed.

“It has been a phenomenon in Indonesia, where victims are blamed. They are not defended but cornered. This mindset should be corrected. It happens a lot as women are blamed for their way of dressing or behaving which triggers a rape,” she said.

Author: Sefya Hayu

Editor: Nuri Hermawan