Natuna Regency Regional Secretary Boy Wijanarko Varianto led a coordination meeting on the preparation of an action plan to prevent violence against women on Wednesday afternoon (28 October). He was accompanied by the Assistant for Economic and Development Affairs. The meeting took place in Meeting Room I on the second floor of the Natuna Regent’s Office in Bukit Arai, East Bunguran District.
The meeting brought together representatives from related regional government agencies, Natuna Police, the District Court, the Religious Court, subdistrict and village leaders, women’s organisations, members of the press, and community leaders.
In his remarks, Boy stressed that preventing violence against women requires strong coordination and the active involvement of all parts of society. These efforts must be well planned, carried out together, and continued over time.
He called on all parties to move beyond working separately and build stronger cooperation to develop effective prevention measures. Through this approach, efforts to address violence against women can be better planned and more closely linked to the real conditions faced by communities.
Boy also highlighted the need to identify areas where violence against women and children may occur. This information can help the government and related parties prepare prevention measures and detect risks at an early stage.
Based on the cases discussed during the meeting, the Bunguran Besar area was identified as one that needs greater attention. He said that preventive measures and greater awareness among all related parties are needed to reduce the risk of violence.
Through the meeting, Boy hoped that all parties could develop a shared understanding and commitment to preparing an action plan to prevent violence against women.
Cooperation between the local government, law enforcement agencies, educational institutions, community organisations, and families is expected to strengthen protection, make it easier for victims to report cases, and create a safe environment for women and children in Natuna Regency.
At the same meeting, Head of the Natuna Regency Office for Women’s Empowerment, Child Protection, Population Control and Family Planning (P3AP2KB), Sri Riawati, SP., M.Si., explained that her office continues to carry out various prevention and early detection efforts in the community.
Sri also highlighted the iceberg phenomenon in cases of violence against women and children. This means that the cases reported and made public may represent only a small part of the actual number of cases in the community.
This creates a challenge in addressing violence. Therefore, public awareness needs to be improved so that victims and people who know about cases of violence feel safe and confident enough to report them to the authorities.
Meanwhile, Natuna Police representative Bripka Defi Handana explained the different forms of violence that women and children may experience. These include physical and emotional abuse, discrimination, neglect, bullying, sexual violence, exploitation, and human trafficking.
Defi stressed the importance of public education and a better understanding of these forms of violence. He also highlighted the need to teach people how to prevent violence and report cases so that victims can receive proper protection and support in line with the law.
From the legal perspective, Natuna District Court representative Sirojudin, SH., MH., added that court data showed an increasing trend in cases related to violence against women and children.
However, he reminded the meeting that the number of cases recorded by the court may not reflect the full situation. Some victims are still reluctant to report violence because they feel ashamed, afraid, or face social pressure from people around them.
For this reason, victims need a supportive environment where they feel safe to report what happened. Stronger assistance and protection are also needed to help them access justice.
Natuna Religious Court representative M. Ali Haidar, S.HI., also raised concerns about the payment of financial support for wives and children after divorce. He encouraged stronger legal assistance, public education, and cooperation between different sectors to ensure that the rights of women and children remain protected.
The coordination meeting marked an important step for the Natuna Regency Government in preparing a comprehensive action plan to prevent violence against women.
With a shared commitment from all related parties, efforts to prevent violence, detect risks early, encourage reporting, and protect victims are expected to become more effective. These efforts aim to help make Natuna a safer, more inclusive, and more welcoming place for women and children. (Pro_Kopimnatuna/Sr)
RILIS PERS, Number : 07047/PRO_KOPIM/2026
