Agents for Change Local Women's Organizations and Domestic Violence in Indonesia

The Indonesian government introduced the Law on the Elimination of Violence against Women in the Household in 2004 as a criminal-justice response to violence within the household. After more than a decade, it remains unclear how effective the law has been. Weak law enforcement, contrasting societal perceptions, structural barriers, and lack of access to effective support services and interventions are some of the challenges behind the under-reporting of domestic violence. This article discusses the work of women's organizations at the local level to address domestic violence, since the law itself stipulates a role for both government and non-governmental organizations. A case study of a women's legal aid organization in Sulawesi, LBH APIK Makassar, reveals how local activists help women to exercise agency and take action to achieve social and legal justice by working with women who experience domestic violence.