WHO WE ARE

Umah Ramah (UR) was a dream of Asih Widiyowati and Abdul Rosyidi, a couple, who have been working and writing on Reproductive Health issues for over a decade, and dream of building a movement in Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Awareness in Indonesia. Their dream flourished and in 2020 formally launched Umah Ramah as a Non-Profit Foundation with initial and continuous support from National Organization of Asian and Pacific Islanders Ending Sexual Violence (NAPIESV).

In its development, the number of staff continues to grow, including young women, men and queer people. Apart from the core staff, volunteers are a big part of the organization in widening Umah Ramah’s outreach in the community. Volunteers are recruited from the community and alumni of the Sudhamala School in 2023. Umah Ramah staff and volunteers are active as speakers at various events, holding discussions, conducting research, publishing books, campaigning on social media, and accompanying community members who have experienced sexual violence. With assistance from Nina Jusuf (Co-Founder of NAPIESV) and Husein Muhammad (Muslim Feminist Ulama), we are committed to continuing the movement to end sexual violence.

OUR VISION, MISSION, AND VALUES 

Umah Ramah is an organization with the vision of creating a just and equitable society that is free of violence and uphold humanity. 

Our mission is to end sexual violence through: 

• Research on Sexual Violence; the root cause and its impact in individual and communities through local culture and faith/religion lenses 
• Holding space for individuals who experienced sexual violence across the life span

UR centers and follows the leadership of individuals who experienced sexual violence in developing analyses, working strategies, and establishing safe spaces in the community.

We believe, support and practice women’s leadership in organizations and spaces in the movement, considering that this violence is rooted in gender inequality.

OUR PRINCIPLES

In carrying out our mission or works to actualize our vision, we adhere to three key principles, namely: Justice, Humanity, and Rahmatan lil ‘Alamin (compassion for all).

ROOT CAUSES

UR understands that sexual violence is a form of gender-based violence rooted in power and control; However, sexual violence has characteristics that cannot be equated with other forms of violence.

The impact of sexual violence is often severe, both for the individuals who experience it and for the community itself because it relates to sexuality, often a non-discussable topic in some cultures and faith. Therefore, it is imperative to include culture and faith factors when we work in supporting individuals who experienced sexual violence and the community they are in.

Annual data of National Commission on Violence against Women (KOMNAS Perempuan) for 12 years (2001-2012), reveal that there were at least 35 women experience sexual violence every day. In 2012 they recorded 135,170 cases of violence against women, and as many as 4,336 were sexual violence. 

In 2013 there were a total of 180,746 cases of violence against women, 5,629 of which were sexual violence. In 2014 there were a total of 185,458 cases of violence against women, 4,457 of which were sexual violence. In 2015 there were a total of 204,794 cases of violence against women, 6,499 of which were sexual violence. In 2016 there were a total of 163,116 cases of violence against women, 5,765 of which were sexual violence. In 2017 there were a total of 230,881 cases of violence against women, 5,293 of which were sexual violence.

In 2018 a total of 280,185 cases of violence against women, of which 4,658 cases were sexual violence. In 2019 there were a total of 302,686 cases of violence against women, 4,829 of which were sexual violence. In 2020 there were a total of 226,062 cases of violence against women, and 2,903 of them were cases of sexual violence. The number of violence against women in 2020 decreased because there were many services at the religious courts that did not work during Covid-19.

The number of violence against women has increased from year to year, until in 2021, the records reached 338,496 cases, which is a combined report from Religious Courts (Badan Peradilan Agama/BADILAG), KOMNAS Perempuan, and service institutions. Based on cases recorded by Komnas Perempuan alone, as many as 4,660 cases of them were sexual violence.

Sexual violence in each of Komnas Perempuan’s annual reports is a form of violence against women that is often found. In the first rank there were 4,814 cases of physical violence (30%), 4,754 (29%) psychological violence in the second place, sexual violence (29%) in the third place with a slight difference, and economic violence 1,887 (12%).

When viewed from its domain, sexual violence is always the highest in reports every year in the public domain. Meanwhile, in personal/private/household domains, sexual violence occupies the second or third position. Considering that there are still few individuals in the domestic sphere who want to report due to some reasons. Also because our society and law enforcement officials still do not acknowledge the term sexual violence between married couples or marital rape. 

We all know that these data come from cases reported to state and related social service institutions. Meanwhile, the number of unreported/unrecorded cases is far greater. Sexual violence has always been an iceberg phenomenon.

SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN ISLAMIC BOARDING SCHOOLS

All UR members are alumni of Islamic Boarding Schools or had a lived-experience in a strict Islamic community. This experience prompted us to formulate a clear analysis on Sexual Violence in Islamic Boarding School when media started covering and highlighting the issue. We are deeply concerned on the high rate of sexual violence occurred in Islamic boarding schools. A place that should be the safest place for teenagers and young people to study.

Komnas Perempuan in their press release on 27 October 2020, stated that Islamic boarding schools are the second educational institution with the most cases of sexual violence (19%). In the first order, sexual violence occurred in universities (27%). The fact of sexual violence in Islamic boarding schools was also reported by the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI), that during 2017-2019, cases of child abuse that occurred in Islamic boarding schools were quite high, although not all of them were reported.

Case after case of sexual violence in Islamic boarding schools is increasingly mentioned in the media. The results of our research in 2021 also show that sexual violence occurs in high numbers in Islamic boarding schools.

These data and based on our research findings and listening sessions, convinced us even more that sexual violence occurs everywhere, in all spaces. We believe that if this is not resolved, it will bring latent hazards to our next generations.