Ana Abdillah, INDONESIA
About Ana
Ana is the Director of the Women’s Crisis Center in Jombang. As an advocate for women’s rights in Indonesia, she is committed to amplifying women’s voices and eliminating gender-based violence throughout the country.
The Challenge
Women in conflict with the law in Indonesia have the right to access justice in accordance with the State’s commitment to ratify CEDAW (Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women). CEDAW emphasizes the State’s obligation to ensure protection for women against all forms of discrimination and deprivation of rights. However, in practice, these rights are not always upheld. Economic and social factors, such as low income and structural poverty, can often trigger criminal acts by vulnerable women. When these women then undergo the legal process as defendants, they often require additional support due to the unequal implementation of their rights and discriminatory treatment.
The Innovation: “Building a Gender Justice Perspective in the Integrated Criminal Justice System for Legal Protection for Women Dealing with the Law”
The main objective of Ana’s project was to address the demand for legal assistance among women who have been suspected or convicted of criminal acts and often face discrimination within the criminal justice system. The project aimed to improve their situation by organizing legal rights campaigns, mobilizing volunteers to provide pro bono legal aid, and conducting legal consultations for women. Despite obstacles related to COVID-19, Ana and her team successfully provided 42 women with free legal advice and assistance. The team conducted ten visits to detention facilities, where they organized group legal consultations and psychological coaching for detainees. Through awareness campaigns via radio, podcasts, and outreach seminars, Ana reached an additional 750 individuals from the general public, 88% of whom, when surveyed, expressed a better understanding of their rights.