Gender-Based Violence Against Women is Rampant on the Island of Java

According to a report by the Indonesian National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan), 330,097 cases of Gender-Based Violence against Women (GBVAW) were recorded in Indonesia in 2024.

This represents a 14.17% increase compared to the 289,111 cases recorded in 2023.

GBVAW cases are prevalent on the island of Java, particularly in the provinces of West Java, East Java, and Central Java.

The following is a list of the 10 provinces with the highest number of GBVAW cases in 2024:

1. West Java: 55,660 cases

2. East Java: 44,991 cases

3. Central Java: 42,938 cases

4. North Sumatra: 15,594 cases

5. Lampung: 12,245 cases

6. South Sulawesi: 11,406 cases

7. Banten: 10,970 cases

8. Jakarta: 10,880 cases

9. South Sumatra: 9,260 cases

10. West Sumatra: 8,011 cases

This data is an accumulation of data from Komnas Perempuan, reports to various other institutions, and court prosecutions and verdicts.

Komnas Perempuan suggests that the high number of cases on Java is possibly due to the well-established infrastructure for documenting GBVAW cases in this region. Additionally, the high population density on Java may contribute to a higher number of cases compared to provinces outside Java.

Provinces with relatively few recorded GBVAW cases (less than 500 cases) are generally located on the island of Papua, with the following details:

* West Papua: 391 cases

* Central Papua: 4 cases

* Highland Papua: 3 cases

* South Papua: 1 case

* Southwest Papua: 1 case

“Papua is a region where very few cases are reported. The low number of reported cases should not be interpreted negatively, but rather appreciated as a testament to the courage of victims in reporting their cases, pursuing legal action, and obtaining legal judgments,” stated Komnas Perempuan in its 2024 Annual Report.