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women leaders—among others, Mama Beatrix Rumbino Koibur, Ferdinanda Ibo Yatipai, Therese
Samkakai, Kathrina Yabansabra, Yosepha Alomang, Marike Rumbiak, and Maria Korano—were involved
in Team 100 negotiations that opened a dialogue with President B. J. Habibie.
The Second Papuan Women’s Conference, held in Kota Raja from August 23–27, 2006, issued the
following declaration:
Many cases of human rights violations that have occurred in various regions of the Land of Papua from 1963 until
now . . . tell the story of trauma and deep suffering for us Papua mothers because we have to watch our children
become victims of intimidation, rape, and murder. Papuan women realize that their voices have long been ignored . . .
May our voices reverberate throughout the universe so they’ll be heard. 10
Papuan women’s strong awareness regarding gender justice, violence against women, and women’s human
rights also came from a group of NGOs in various regions of Papua. The period of roughly one decade
since reformation in 1998 stimulated the growth of civil society movements, particularly the women's
movement, and gave birth to wome activists who stood on the front line of the struggle to overcome
problems of violence and and the abuse of women’s human rights. Some of these women’s organizations
are still active; others are not. The organizations still active include, among others: Yahamak in Timika,
Humi Inane in Wamena, Women’s Solidarity of the Central Mountains, Solidarity of Papuan Women Who
Love Justice and Peace (SP2CK2) in Biak, the Institute for Research and Empowerment of Papuan Women
and Children (LP3AP) in Kotaraja, Jayapura, the Angganita Foundation in Abepura, Women Partners in
Manokwari, the Institute for Women’s and Economic Empowerment in Sorong, Akad Cepes in Asmat, and
a women's tabloid, Papuan Women’s Voices, in Jayapura.
In addition to women’s groups organized as NGOs, there are also groups or communities of women
victims such as Deborah Love Peace in Sorong and Heartbeat in Biak that were born through the initiative
of women victims of violence and victims’ counselors. They have made efforts to build solidarity among
survivors, pray, and together struggle with the suffering of victims with pastoral counseling, visits to
victims, etc. There is a community of women at the grassroots who pay attention to the issue of women’s
human rights and who are trying to overcome violence against women, for example, Communication
Forum of Arso and Hurfun Women in Waris. There are also women’s communities based on sub-ethnic
identities such as the Association of Women from Sentani, Mamta APP, and the Sarmi Women's Forum. In
addition, churches and church-based women’s communities still strengthen women in the midst of Papua’s
currently changing social situation. The GKI Women's Fellowship in the Land of Papua, GKI’s P3W, and
the Indonesian Christian Women's Fellowship (PWKI), also develop critical awareness and strengthen the
capacity of Papuan women to address violence against women and uphold women's human rights in the
Land of Papua.
The passage of Law No. 21 of 2001, along with the articulation of Papuan women’s rights and formation of
the Women's Working Group within the Papuan People’s Council, form a momentum that reflects one of
the achievements of the women's movement in Papua as well as being an important opportunity to
continue promoting the struggle for Papuan women’s human rights. In situations where cases of violence
against women persist, in contexts of political conflict and the exploitation of natural resources, as well as in
10 The Second Papuan Women’s Conference resulted in six demands: 1) that the conflict in the Land of Papua be resolved
through a process of peaceful, just, and democratic dialogue; 2) that cases of human rights violations be fully addressed
through a judicial process; 3) that Papuan women possess political rights to hold office in legislative, executive, and judicial
bodies; 4) that the younger generation be prepared and basic health, education, economic, and social welfare rights be
protected; 5) for women’s solidarity to stop violence against women and children; and 6) that the UN Human Rights Council
send a special rapporteur to observe the problem of human rights violations in the Land of Papua (Report of the Proceedings of
2006–2011 Strategic Planning, Papuan Women’s Solidarity).
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! 12