The Implementation of Recovery Policy towards Women Victims of Marital Violence as to Mental Care in Central Java, Indonesia

摘要

Indonesia has Law No. 23 of 2004 or Marital Violence Eradication Act (MVEA) to curb the crime rate, protect the victims, and facilitate their recovery from trauma due to marital violence. The act comprises not only the penal regulations of marital violence but also regulations as to the state responsibility as to providing recovery towards the victims of their traumatic damages, both physically and mentally. The recovery includes healthcare service, counseling, spiritual guidance, resocialization, and advocacy. This paper discussed the implementation of MVEA's recovery policy on the mental care of the marital violence victims. It is based on our participatory action research in 12 cities with the highest rates of marital violence in Central Java Province in which we conduct ethnography, surveys, and focus group discussions. We found that the core of recovery policy is in the form of shelter houses in which victims can stay temporarily while undergoing recovery and legal procedures. Shelter house provides not professional medical supports but also psychological, spiritual and societal. This is important as to improving victims mental health from its trauma and dependency into a more independent person who is ready to be re-socialized.