Violence Rates Soar, Women Ulama's Role Becomes a New Hope
Minister of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection (PPPA), Arifah Fauzi, is calling on female ulama to join forces in efforts to stop violence against women and children. Preaching and shifting social norms are now seen as key strategies to break the chain of violence at its roots, complementing the legal approaches that have been dominant so far.
“Female ulama have a very important and strategic role. Besides conveying religious teachings, they are agents of change who bring the values of Islam rahmatan lil’alamin, which uphold respect for human dignity, justice, compassion, and protection for vulnerable groups,” said Minister Arifah Fauzi in Jakarta, Wednesday (7/8/2026). This collaboration is strengthened through partnerships with the Congress of Indonesian Women Ulama (KUPI) and other religious organizations, focusing on education, advocacy, and reinforcing the role of families and communities.
This move is urgent considering data from the Online Information System for the Protection of Women and Children (Simfoni PPA), which recorded 35,020 cases of violence throughout 2025, with 36,920 victims. Physical violence is mostly experienced by women, and households are the primary location of violence, with the majority of perpetrators being partners (52.42%). This shows the need for a shift in values within families and communities, where female ulama are expected to be the driving force for social norms that protect vulnerable groups.
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