The Status and Role of Women in the Pasemah Tribe: Decreasing Acts of Violence Against Women Using Local Wisdom as Value Education

The National Commission on Women in Indonesia, conveyed in its annual report that the number of incidents of violence against women continues to increase from year to year (Kompas, 2016). Sexual violence is one of the most prominent forms of violence, so it is said by some that Indonesia is currently in an emergency condition concerning sexual violence. Some famous cases reported in the media, among others, include the Yuyun junior high school girls in Bengkulu, who were raped and then killed by 14 drunk young men, all the perpetrators were underage; a woman was raped by 19 people and severely traumatized in Manado; and the most recent is the sad case of Eno in Tangerang, who was raped by her boyfriend, who then cruelly pierced a wooden handle into her vagina through to her lungs. Many activists, researchers, educators and other community members have advised including materials for the protection and empowerment of women through formal and in-school education in both families and communities. Most of our societies still regard women and children as weak human beings, who have no right to be protected, and can therefore be used as an outlet for resentment, anger and all forms of negative emotions.