The Defender of the Victims of Violence

KOMPAS/KORNELIS KEWA AMA.

Veronika Ata

Cases of violence against women and children in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) are like an iceberg phenomenon. For 16 years, Veronika Ata,  has only handled some of so many cases that occurred in the province. She has built a network to eliminate the cases of violence.

Upon hearing the news that the indigenous people of Pubabu, Timor Tengah Selatan, were being evicted from their customary forest by the NTT provincial government in mid-August, Veronika immediately took action. She invited a number of women to visit the location and  monitor the impact of the eviction on women and children.

“That night the children and women slept in emergency tents with thin tarpaulins set up on the rocky ground. Some had not eaten since noon when their homes were forcibly evicted. Their goods were moved somewhere, including food ”said Veronika, who is more commonly called Tori Ata, in Kupang on Tuesday (3/11/2020).

Her instincts as a mother and a woman were immediately disturbed when she witnessed the children of the evicted victims asking to drink milk, eat and sleep on the bed. "I asked the security s and Satpol PP  ( public order)  officers  to prepare houses for the residents before they were evicted,” she added.

They could lose a lot of things including their ancestral land.

As a result of the forced evictions, Tori Ata  said,   as many as 74 children, ranging from infants to high school students  were traumatized. The same thing happened to women. They could lose a lot of things including their ancestral land.

Tori Ata sought for assistance, such as clothes, condensed milk,  essentials for  teenage girls, and instant food for the residents who were displaced. "I took my time to be there, helping them, as well as encouraging them," said Tori Ata.

She was worried that the evicted residents could not be handled until the 2020/2021 rainy season. At present, some of them have begun to catch coughs, fever, and others.

Half life

Tori Ata has spent almost  half of her life helping the community. After completing her law degree in 1991, she joined the Cinta Damai Foundation in 1992. Three years later, she founded the Yusticia Legal Aid Institute. In 2004, she established the East Nusa Tenggara Women and Child Protection Agency (LPA NTT). This institution has established a network with a number of NGOs, legal aids  and a number of psychologists.

There are still many cases of sexual violence that have not been revealed.

"During January to October 2020 there were 37 cases of violence against women and children in NTT. The data was recorded by the LPA through direct reports and investigations, not including data from the police, mass media, or social media. There are still many cases of sexual violence that have not been revealed, " she said.

Tori Ata said that the cases of violence against women and children in NTT were like an iceberg phenomenon. It occurred because the people felt it was taboo to discuss acts of violence in the family, especially those related to sexual violence. In fact, 97 percent of the perpetrators of sexual violence are close persons namely biological fathers, step fathers, siblings, grandparents, cousins, nieces, nephews, and neighbors.

KOMPAS/KORNELIS KEWA AMA.

Sosok Veronika Ata

Victims are generally afraid to reveal the violence they experience because they are threatened with death. There are also those who choose to remain silent because they are tempted to go to college or be given valuables.

Rape by close persons can occur for years. Tori Ata gave an example of a case of rape of a child by a biological father which had occurred for a dozen years  in Kupang . The victim was first raped when she was 10 years old and it continued until she was 24 years old. She dared to reveal the case to LPA and the Rumah Perempuan Foundation only after she went to the college.

"She fainted when she told the case," recalled Tori Ata.

There was also a case of rape of three  sisters  conducted by their biological father. The perpetrator raped his eldest daughter when she was 10 years old. Two years later, he raped the second girl who was nine years old, and finally raped the third girl who was only eight years old.

Ironically, his wife knew about the savage behavior, but did not dare to reveal it. The first victim finally revealed the case to his uncle. Rape also often happens to girls when their parents work as migrant workers abroad. Usually the children are taken care by their grandparents. The rapist is usually the victim\'s grandparent, uncle, or cousin.

“I was so disturbed. I couldn\'t sleep when cases of sexual violence against minors continued to occur with death threats. The victims suffered for life, their futures were ruined, but the perpetrators and their close people were never aware of this, ”said Tori Ata grimly.

Tori Ata tries to accompany the victim through the psychological trauma recovery process. Together with her network, she empowers victims with various craft-making training. Ata or volunteers buy their works.

The victims will also feel satisfied, and are  no longer afraid to be in the family environment.

If the perpetrators are processed until they go to jail, Tori Ata will feel  relieved because with the punishment,  the perpetrators will repent. The victims will also feel satisfied, and are  no longer afraid to be in the family environment.

In the last three years, NTT has become an “emergency zone” for sexual violence and domestic violence. These sexual violence and domestic violence cases have occurred in most parts of NTT, such as Rote Ndao, Lembata, Sikka, Kupang City, and Sumba.

In addition to sexual violence, cases of domestic violence have also continued to increase, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic. The husband lost his job which affected economy of the family, causing infidelity, and family conflicts. In one day, domestic violence can reach between 30 and 50 cases, but rarely exposed.

Tori Ata hopes that the movement she and other volunteers organize can help to get NTT out of the emergency zone for cases of sexual violence and domestic violence.

KOMPAS/KORNELIS KEWA AMA.

Veronika Ata

VERONIKA ATA

Born: Malaka, 8 Aug.1967

Husband: Ted Burke

Children: Four people

Education: Master of Law at Undana University, Kupang, 2010