Indonesian Catholic Women’s Group Trains 100 Leaders to Combat Gender-Based Violence

The Indonesian Catholic Women Association (WKRI) has launched a four-day Training of Trainers (ToT) program in central Jakarta from April 23 to 26 for 100 selected women from across the Indonesian archipelago.

Founded in 1924, WKRI has been active for 102 years, promoting the protection of women, children, and vulnerable individuals in Indonesia.

Elly Kusumawati Handoko, chair of the presidium of WKRI’s national board, said the initiative reflects the organization’s mission to move beyond advocacy into concrete action.

“This Training of Trainers is a tangible expression that our organization is present not only as a witness to history, but as an agent of change,” she said. “The one hundred women we are training will become guardians of social justice in their respective regions, from Sabang to Merauke.”

She added that the program equips participants with skills in prevention, accompaniment, and advocacy in cases of gender-based violence, enabling them to work alongside government institutions in reaching vulnerable communities.

WKRI has been working closely with the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection since 2024 on a range of initiatives. These include national seminars on preventing sexual violence, the “Stop Violence” campaign, and entrepreneurship training for 640 women survivors across Java, including in Tangerang, Depok, and Karanganyar.

The ToT program marks both the culmination and continuation of this collaboration.

Mrs. Arifatul Choiri Fauzi, the Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection, emphasized the importance of partnership between government and civil society.

“The partnership between the ministry and WKRI demonstrates that the protection of women and children is a shared responsibility,” the minister said. “We are proud to support the LASKAR TANNA program, which reflects WKRI’s commitment to advancing protection and empowerment programs for Indonesian women in this new era.”

WKRI is a Catholic women’s social organization rooted in faith-based values. It operates through a nationwide structure, from local branches to regional levels, with its national board headquartered in Jakarta.

As part of the universal Church, WKRI has been a member of the World Union of Catholic Women’s Organisations since 1957, linking it to Catholic women’s groups in around 100 countries.