Beranda blog Halaman 29

Konseling Kehamilan Tidak Direncanakan

Penulis
Bernadia Widyasarastri
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Kehamilan tidak direncanakan

Mengalami Kehamilan Tidak Direncanakan bisa membuat anda merasa berada di situasi yang mengerikan. Kehamilan anda ini merupakan pengalaman pertama, ditambah lagi tidak terencana. Berapapun usia anda, kehamilan yang tidak direncanakan dapat membuat anda tertekan dan tidak bisa berpikir dengan jernih. Walaupun begitu, penting untuk diingat kalau anda masih mempunyai pilihan.

Membuat pilihan dengan sadar

Hal terbaik yang bisa anda lakukan, untuk anda dan kehamilan anda, adalah membuat pilihan dengan sadar. Yang dimaksud dengan membuat pilihan dengan sadar adalah anda harus mempelajari pilihan-pilihan anda, mengerti konsekuensinya, menganalisa keamanan anda, dan buat keputusan dari apa yang anda pelajari dan temukan dari diri anda, situasi anda, dan kebutuhan anda. Pilihan-pilihan dasar yang dapat anda pilih adalah aborsi, adopsi, dan menjadi orang tua.

Jika anda memutuskan untuk aborsi, ada beberapa hal yang perlu anda ketahui: komplikasi aborsi, prosedur, dan resiko. Anda perlu membaca tentang macam aborsi dan bagaimana persiapan prosedur aborsi. Juga, perhatikan bahwa negara punya undang-undang dan peraturan aborsi. Legal di suatu negara dan bisa tidak legal di negara lain. Jika negara anda tidak melegalkan aborsi, anda harus mencari prosedur aborsi dari negara lain. Dan ini akan membutuhkan banyak rencana dan kesabaran.

Adopsi adalah pilihan lain yang mungkin anda akan perhatikan. Anda memperhitungkan waktu kehamilan sampai melahirkan atau menunggu sampai anda siap untuk mendapatkan keluarga yang tepat untuk bayi anda. Jika aborsi merupakan pilihan yang mungkin anda pilih, anda bisa mencari lembaga professional untuk adopsi seperti agen, pengacara, dan fasilitator adopsi. Sebaiknya anda menggunakan semua jasa tersebut karena ini akan membantu anda dalam menentukan pilihan yang terbaik.

Walaupun anda merasa kehamilan anda tidak terencana bukan berarti anda tidak dapat memilih menjadi orang tua. Banyak orang ditekan oleh keluarga dan teman untuk melakukan aborsi, adopsi, atau menjadi orang tua. Seharusnya itu tidak boleh terjadi, tapi kenyataannya seperti itu. Ingat, ini harus pilihan anda sendiri. Bukan orang lain yang seharusnya memutuskan untuk anda, karena nanti anda sendiri yang harus hidup dengan konsekuensi dan efeknya seumur hidup anda.

Konseling 

Konseling adalah cara yang paling baik untuk dapat benar-benar menemukan pilihan-pilihan anda. Anda akan berbicara dengan konselor dan berdiskusi tentang situasi anda dengan mendalam. Konselor akan menanyakan tentang tujuan hidup, harapan, dan kebutuhan anda. Konselor juga akan menanyakan tentang apa yang anda lihat di kehidupan anda 5 tahun, 10 tahun atau bahkan 15 tahun mendatang. Setelah konselor lebih mengetahui anda, dia akan memulai konseling kehamilan. Pada dasarnya, konseling kehamilan adalah sebuah pendampingan untuk memutuskan pilihan anda.

Komunitas Pendukung

Memiliki dukungan adalah hal yang penting selama proses ini. Ada kalanya anda meresa sendiri, bingung, atau takut. Itu adalah saat-saat anda membutuhkan pasangan, teman, dan keluarga di sekeliling anda, untuk membantu anda. Jika anda tidak memiliki keluarga, pasangan, atau teman yang merupakan sistem pendukung anda, anda juga dapat bergabung dengan kominitas lokal untuk mereka yang sedang mengalami pengalaman serupa. Anda akan membangun hubungan dan persahabatan yang dapat membantu anda selama proses sulit ini dan merayakan kebahagiaan bersama setelah melalui proses ini.

Jika anda merasa lebih nyaman dengan berinteraksi dengan satu orang saja, anda dapat mengunjungi professional konselor. Konselor dapat menbantu anda untuk mendapatkan apa yang anda butuhkan dan dalam mengatasi ketakutan anda. Konselor anda dapat membantu anda memulai proses penyembuhan emosional anda, jika anda memutuskan untuk aborsi atau adopsi. Bahkan memilih untuk menjadi orang tua dengan mengunjungi konselor dapat sangat berguna.

Apapun keputusan yang anda buat, selalu ada waktu untuk bergerak maju. Maksudnya adalah bergerak maju baik emosional dan fisik secara natural. Tergantung pada pilihan anda, anda pasti butuh mencurahkan waktu untuk penyembuhan emosi. Walaupun, anda membuat keputusan secara sadar, akan ada waktu yang sulit, sedih, dan menyakitkan.

Ada beberapa cara berbeda untuk bergerak maju. Yang jelas anda harus bergerak maju dengan keputusan yang sudah anda buat. Bagaimanapun, tetap diingat bahwa anda tetap dapat merubah pikiran anda sebelum hak menjadi orang tua sudah diputuskan atau setelah aborsi prosedur sudah selesai. Anda dapat merefleksikan pengalaman anda selama anda berbicara dengan konselor atau bergabung dengan komunitas pendukung.

Sementara Kehamilan tidak direncanakan menganggu hidup anda, Anda tetap memiliki pilihan. Ingat untuk melalui proses ini, anda tidak sendiri. Ada banyak perempuan di sekitar anda yang mengalami situasi yang sama. Dan anda memiliki pasangan, keluaraga, dan teman yang mencintai anda. Hal ini mungkin membuat anda terperangkap dalam keputusasaan dan ketakutan, tapi pikirkan bahwa ini adalah pengalaman baru, kesempatan untuk belajar lebih mengenal diri.

Malu and Kemaluan (a SAMSARA workshop)

Penulis
Samsara
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aborsi aman
Never in my life did I think I’d be standing topless in front of 20 Indonesian women, some wearing jilbabs, some not. But last weekend I did exactly that, as a model for one of Samsara’s education workshops?
The theme of this month’s workshop was sexual health, specifically breast and cervical examinations. This is a topic that most Australian women aren’t overly comfortable with – I’m not gonna lie, when I was first asked to be a model, I was a little squeamish. But a lot of Indonesian women are embarrassed by their bodies as well, as their genitals are often only seen in a sexual light. Many Indonesian women do not want to share this part of their bodies with anyone except their husband – not even a female doctor or gynecologist. Even if they do feel comfortable seeing a professional for a checkup, there issues of accessibility, either because of remoteness or money.

The title of this post is one of the many interesting points of Indonesian language. Malu means “embarrassed” or “ashamed”. The ke-an affix usually makes an abstract noun out of a base word. Following that pattern, kemaluan should mean embarrassment. But it doesn’t. It means genitals. Genitals and embarrassment seem to be inextricably connected in Indonesian culture and indeed in Indonesian language. Crazy, isn’t it?

My role in the workshop was to, along with Witri, demonstrate how to perform a breast examination in two different ways: standing in front of a mirror, and lying down. Samsara’s director, the fiercely inspiring Inna Hudaya, went on to show us ladies how to examine our cervixes in the comfort of our own homes. This was my first time seeing a cervix – actually, before this, I don’t think I’d even seen a diagram of a cervix (thank you, Australian education system), and I was definitely not alone. Yes, this was definitely going to be an eye-opening (and leg-opening) experience.

So what was the reaction of 20+ grown women, in one tiny hot room, seeing other women’s bodies? Well, there were a few nervous giggles here and there, a couple of shy smirks. But, as always, intrigue overpowered embarrassment, and the curiosity got the better of us all. Seeing other women’s bodies – realising that everyone is completely different, but completely normal – was a liberating experience. When you realize that most women are not comfortable with their bodies – to the point that they cannot even perform basic procedures to ensure that they are healthy – you realize just how important body authority is. Why should we be embarrassed about our bodies? Why should we be afraid to ask questions about the shape of our breasts, or the health of our vaginas?

Samsara’s workshops allow women – Indonesian or not – to take the malu out of kemaluan. They can ask questions, check that they are healthy, take back authority over their bodies, regain power. And there’s nothing more powerful than baring your breasts to a roomful of people.

Apa itu Kehamilan Tidak Diinginkan dan Kehamilan Tidak Direncanakan?

Penulis
Kate Lee
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Kehamilan Tidak Direncanakan
(Diterjemahkan oleh Zulkamal Hidayat Z dan Bernadia Hastiwi W.)

Kehamilan Tidak Direncanakan (KTD) dan Kehamilan Tidak Diinginkan memiliki konsekuensi yang penting bagi perempuan, laki-laki, janin dan kehamilan itu sendiri, serta masyarakat secara keseluruhan. Untuk lebih memahami informasi mengenai Kehamilan Tidak Direncanakan dan Kehamilan Tidak Diinginkan, maka penting untuk mengetahui perbedaan diantara kedua istilah tersebut.

Jenis dan Pengertian

Kehamilan Tidak Direncanakan adalah kehamilan yang terjadi ketika pasangan belum membuat keputusan untuk memiliki kehamilan, atau kehamilan terjadi akibat kegagalan dari metode kontrasepsi. Sedangkan Kehamilan Tidak Diinginkan terjadi ketika perempuan yang memiliki kehamilan, tidak menginginkan untuk melanjutkan kehamilan dan mungkin tidak ingin menghadapi konsekuensi secara fisik, emosional, sosial dan kesehatan sebagai akibat dari kehamilan. Banyak orang yang mengalami Kehamilan Tidak Direncanakan menganggap kehamilan ini sebagai sebuah kejutan yang menyenangkan. Bahkan pada pasangan yang berencana untuk tidak memiliki anak, Kehamilan Tidak Direncanakan mungkin dapat diterima oleh pasangan.

Pada beberapa kasus, Kehamilan Tidak Direncanakan menjadi hal yang membahagiakan bagi pasangan yang mengetahui bahwa mereka tidak subur tetapi sangat menginginkan seorang anak. Dalam kasus lain, pasangan juga mungkin tidak dapat menerima kehamilan yang tidak direncanakan, dan segala perubahan yang menyertai kehamilan tersebut. Pada kasus ini, kehamilan yang terjadi bukan hanya tidak direncanakan tapi juga tidak diinginkan. Terkadang salah satu pasangan dapat menerima Kehamilan Tidak Direncanakan dan yang lain tidak menginnginkan kehamilan tersebut. Dengan kata lain, Kehamilan Tidak Diinginkan adalah kehamilan yang tidak direncanakan, tapi tidak semua kehamilan yang tidak direncanakan adalah kehamilan yang tidak diingikan.

Time Frame

Reaksi pasangan terhadap Kehamilan Tidak Direncanakan dapat berbeda-beda dari waktu ke waktu. Beberapa pasangan atau mereka yang telah menjadi orang tua merasa takut, ragu dan khawatir ketika menghadapi situasi kehamilan tidak direncanakan. Namun mereka akan terbiasa dengan istilah kehamilan tidak direncanakan, khususnya jika mereka mendapatkan dorongan dan dukungan dari keluarga, teman atau konseling yang bermanfaat. Pasangan lain mungkin dapat menerima Kehamilan Tidak Direncanakan pada awalnya, dan kemudian merasa ragu ketika berhadapan dengan realitas sosial yang terjadi ketika menginginkan kehamilan tersebut. Dalam situasi diatas, pasangan yang menghadapi Kehamilan Tidak Direncanakan seringkali memiliki keputusan yang berubah-ubah terhadap kehamilan yang tidak direncanakan.

Akibat Kehamilan Tidak Direncanakan

Kehamilan Tidak Direncanakan selalu memiliki konsekuensi yaitu dapat mengubah kehidupan seseorang, apapun akibatnya. Pasangan yang mengalami Kehamilan Tidak Direncanakan pasti mempertanyakan kemampuan mereka untuk menghadapi kehamilan tersebut, menjadi orang tua dan harus menghidupi seorang anak baik keuangan dan emosional. Mereka pasti berpikir apa yang akan mereka lakukan terhadap kehamilan tersebut, jika mereka sudah memutuskan tidak menginginkan kehamilan tersebut. Kehamilan Tidak Direncanakan juga dapat membuat perubahan yang penting bagi hubungan pasangan tersebut.

Contohnya, jika salah satu dari pasangan tersebut menginginkan untuk melanjutkan kehamilan dan yang lain tidak, pasti akan ada ketegangan dan kemarahan diantara mereka. Namun beberapa pasangan berpendapat ketika mereka mampu menghadapi situasi kehamilan tidak direncanakan, hal itu dapat menguatkan hubungan mereka. Bagi beberapa pasangan yang belum menikah, ketika Kehamilan Tidak Direncanakan terjadi maka mereka memilih untuk berkomitmen dan menikah. Beberapa pasangan lainnya mengalami stress atau perbedaan pendapat terhadap penyelesaian Kehamilan Tidak Direncanakan yang mengakibatkan hubungan mereka berakhir.

Pertimbangan

Pasangan yang mengalami Kehamilan Tidak Direncanakan harus membuat keputusan yang sulit. Untungnya, mereka tidak harus membuat keputusan sendiri. Keluarga, teman-teman, dan orang tua dapat memberikan nasehat dan dukungan, dan juga layanan profesional konseling. Layanan konseling dapat membantu perempuan atau pasangan yang mengalami Kehamilan Tidak Direncanakan untuk menyelesaikan masalah mereka, dan menyediakan rujukan-rujukan yang membantu mereka dalam mengatasi hambatan atau hal-hal yang perlu diperhatikan dalam menjadi orang tua. Layanan Konseling dapat menyediakan informasi tentang pilihan-pilihan untuk mereka yang tidak menginginkan kehamilan, seperti mencarikan orang tua adopsi untuk bayi mereka atau menghentikan kehamilan.

Youth Action for Safe and Legal Abortion

Penulis
Samsara
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Aborsi aman
Future is Female

http://youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyz5iVcaMGk

This video is a documentary of Samsara’s contribution and participation for the 28th September Global Day of Action for Safe and Legal Abortion. Samsara was taking action on street campaign and working together with young artists from Yogyakarta in making some mural artworks. Those took place in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, which is famous as City of Student and Art

About The Song :
We proudly present the soundtrack of this video, titled ‘Merah Putih’ by Gombloh. This song is one of the national anthems. Merah Putih means Read and White which is the color of our national flag. This song embrace our nationalism. We do believe that the works is the part of our loyalty to our country, our people. So Merah Putih can flutter in our heart, mind, and future. Samsara sebagai salah satu peserta dalam kampanye global September 28 untuk aborsi aman dan legal, kami melaporkan beberapa kegiatan yang telah kami lakukan. Kami melakukan kampanye di jalan dan mural. Kegiatan tersebut dilaksanakan di Jogjakarta, Indonesia, yang terkenal sebagai kota kesenian dan pelajar. Kami bekerja sama dengan seniman muda untuk mural. Kemudian, kami melakun kampanye di jalan dan berbicara langsung dengan orang-orang yang ada di Jalan Malioboro. Dengan bangga kami mempersembahkan lagu Merah Putih ciptaan Gombloh.

Bad Law creates Bad Business

Penulis
Shweta Krishnan
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hotline aborsi aman

 

When access to safe abortions are blocked by restrictive laws, black markets exploit women in a time of need and desperation; Inna Hudaya,founder of Samsara, writes from Indonesia.

Criminalization of abortion does not stop women from seeking safe abortion services. Any woman can experience an unplanned pregnancy, even one who uses contraception; and therefore the need for safe abortion services continues to exist, even if contraceptive use increases. As economic theories highlight, where there is need there is business, and this often leads to the exploitation of desperate women.

Lanjutkan

Unspoken Violence on Abortion, a Case Study of Indonesia

Penulis
Zulkamal Hidayat Zakaria
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aborsi aman

Introduction
Most people in Indonesia has been viewing abortion as an immoral action because it against the positive norms of society. As some countries did, Indonesia preserves cultural and religious based principles which support a banning on abortion. For sure, abortion is illegal in Indonesia. Unfortunately, the government seems unaware of the side effect of such policy and fails to communicate majority and minority interests which are involved. Majority is people who support government policy on banning abortion and minority is people who against government policy on banning abortion. In this setting, the government and society also failed to identify women as a victim of the government policy. This policy has disposed women who commit abortion as criminals. Those women have been dealing with people who can’t accept abortion although it is associated with women authority over their body and future. As a result, women are more vulnerable to violence because the policy has labeled women who commit abortion as criminal instead of victim.

Criminalization of Abortion
The important point in understanding abortion issue in Indonesia is to recognize that it is illegal but it can be done for some specific reasons. Abortion is illegal but it can be done if the pregnancy will jeopardize the mother or fetus and if the pregnancy is caused by rape. This abortion can be taken before the gestational age of six weeks unless to save mother’s life. Even if it is possible to have an abortion until 6 weeks of gestational age, women still do not have authority over their own decision. For instance, married woman needs consent from her husband and unmarried woman needs a parental consent. In case of rape, the parental consent needs to be given with the approval statement from psychologist or psychiatrist.

Based on the Health National Law No 36/2009, the penalties were 10 years imprisonment or a fine of 1 billion IDR for anyone who had induced abortion. In fact, due to the restricted access on sex education, reproductive health and health service especially contraception, women are more vulnerable to unwanted pregnancy that leads to the need of safe abortion.

Women who are young, unmarried, less educated, poor and living in rural area, are the most vulnerable groups and severely affected while dealing with unplanned pregnancy. At this point, unsafe abortion is the available and accessible option for them. On the other hand, the criminalization of abortion did not impact only on the number of unsafe abortion and maternal mortality but it had created many kinds of violence toward women’s rights. This policy has provided an open chance for industry of abortion to develop. Most of abortion clinics in such industry are illegal, especially in Java Island. Those clinics provide abortion services for women without the considering the rights of patients. Women were taking for granted in this situation. Moreover, many drug dealers used to cheat on women who could not report it to the police because abortion is illegal. Frankly, the circumstance has been creating many forms of violence and problem toward the issue of abortion to grow.

Based on the facts above, criminalization of abortion is violation against women rights instead of solution. The government policy was not only possessing women as an object of violence but it was also letting people to take advantage on the situation of women itself. It is hypocrisy of nation who they believe that abortion is sin and create other forms of sin which is violating women rights.

Criminalization of abortion is not a proper way to reduce the number of abortion. On the contrary, this policy made violence toward women remain unspoken. The only way to reduce the number of abortion is by giving sex education and reproductive health and an open access to health services so women will have a control over their sexual and reproductive life that will protect them from unwanted pregnancy.

SAMSARA Project for Change: Reclaiming Access to Safe Abortion
While the government and society failed to identify women as victim from the ongoing policy, women died and suffered from complications caused by unsafe abortion. There’s no time to wait any longer for the government to take action in saving women’s live. Saving the life of women doesn’t always mean to save women from severe complications, traumas, depressions and maternal deaths. Life also means the quality of women’s living condition which includes access to education, health, economy and bargaining position. Based on the situation in Indonesia, the most important thing is a real programs and strategies that will help women to access safe abortion services and create a supportive network in society to reduce stigma and discrimination. In the future, the social changes are expected to decriminalize abortion in Indonesia.

SAMSARA, an organization based in Yogyakarta has been working to promote the reproductive health, sexuality, gender, spirituality, culture and human rights on abortion issues. SAMSARA also provides access to education, information and counseling on abortion based on sexuality and reproductive health and rights. Through its work, SAMSARA has found an urgent need to inform and empower women so they have sufficient knowledge and support to choose and access a safe abortion. We believe that changes are indisputably needed, not only by supporting and empowering the women but also taking a pro active part in providing education to people; influencing social movements; expanding discourses and strengthening a supportive network.

Since 2008, we started a program called Safe Abortion Hotline where we assist women in making decision and finding a safe clinic for abortion. Actually, women should find the clinic of abortion by themselves. Our main job in this program is to provide advice to women to recognize a reliable abortion clinic, affordable, meets the medical standard and avoid them getting deceived by service provider. Mostly, women have to go through the process by themselves without any companion. In this situation, the hotline is available to assist women in the process.

In 2011, we integrated a Medical Abortion into the hotline program. The hotline promotes the use of Misoprostol which is one of recognized method in medical abortion as an alternative option for safe abortion until 9 weeks pregnancy. Hotline is assisting women in making decision, provide information and open access to safe abortion. In this hotline program, women need to confirm their decision before the hotline counselors refer them to service provider or assist them to have abortion at home. It is necessary to ensure that abortion is the decision of the women, not the decision of her partner or family.

If the women can access clinic, hotline will refer women to have surgical abortion. But most women can’t access a clinic because of the distance and price. Most women choose medical abortion. Once women get the pills, a counselor will be available by phone to assist women when women have abortion at home. Usually counselor will ask women to make notes about the process so all information will be helpful for following up the consultation process. Follow up consultation is needed to ensure that the abortion is completed. Hotline also works on the improvement of its service to help women in every step so they won’t face abortion by themselves when it is being taken.

Between May 2011 to May 2012 we received 1.425 calls, emails and face to face session. 71,1 % of the clients are unmarried women. SAMSARA considers Medical Abortion as an ultimate option for safe abortion in a restricted setting like Indonesia. Medical Abortion is not only cheaper, but it also protects the privacy of the women, gives full control and authority to the women and encourages women to focus and care over their body.

Safe Abortion Hotline is an action in reclaiming access to safe abortion. Since our government failed in respect, fulfill and protect women life, it is a time for civil society to act. The absence of real actions to change the circumstance will remain the unending violence on abortion for women. We can’t rely on government to saves women in crisis. Only by listening, supporting and working together, with or without government assistance, we can save women life. The choice is ours, whether to let the unspoken violence to continue or to change the unjust to a just world.

Criminalization of Abortion in Indonesia

Penulis
Inna Hudaya
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aborsi aman

 

Abortion in Indonesia is restricted, it’s illegal except for some reasons ; the pregnancy is danger for the mother or the fetus, the pregnancy caused by rape. Abortion can be done before the gestational age of six weeks unless to save mothers lives. And so, women who commit to have an abortion outside those requirements are seen as criminals. They have to deal with a whole society that does not accept yet the right of women to choose an action over their own body and future. While on the other hand, government also failed for preserving a bridge between majors’ perspective and minors’ perspective on abortion issues. The government and society failed in identifying the women as subjects. This has made the position of women as objects which makes women even more vulnerable to violence.

Even it’s possible to have an abortion until 6 weeks of gestational age, a women do not have authority over their own decision. Married women need the consent of her husband, unmarried women need the parental consent. In the case of rape, the parental consent need to be given with the recommendation or approval of psychologist or psychiatrist.

Based on the Health Law No 36/2009, the penalties for anyone who had induced abortion were 10 years imprisonment or a fine of 1 billion rupiah.

In reality, due to resctricted access on sex education, reproductive health and health services, especially contraception, women tend to be vulnerable to unwanted pregnancy that leads to the need of safe abortion.

Women; young, unmarried, less educated, poor and in rural areas, are the most vulnerable groups and severely affected when faced unplanned pregnancy. In this situation unsafe abortion is the option that available and accessible.

The criminalization of abortion did not only impact on the number of unsafe abortion and maternal mortality, it also creates many kind of violence towards women’s rights. As the results, the criminalization of abortion develop an industry on abortion. Many illegal clinic available in cities, especially Java. Those clinic provide abortion for women without considering the rights of the patients . Women situation taking for granted. Many drug dealer cheats on women without women having the rights to report it to the police. This creates a space to many forms of violence and complicated problems toward the issue of abortion to grow.

Criminalization is violence against women’s rights. Its not only putting women as an object of violence but also letting people taking advantages from women’s situation. It’s a hypocracy of the nation ; who believe that abortion is a sin but creating another kind of sins to be grows.

Criminalization on abortion is not the answer to reduce the number of abortion. The only way to reduce the number of abortion is by fullfiling the rights to sex education and reproduction and open access to health services so women’s having control over their sexual and reproductive lives that protect them from unwanted pregnancy.

Do you think it’s wise to criminalize women without giving their rights at first? This is an act of ignorance.

Partnering Ayo Indonesia in Ruteng

Penulis
Martin Ruddock
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workshop

‘The wealth of the Church towers above everything, all must bow to enter the nunnery, it’s not the steep hill that breaks backs but the will of God…

 

Twisting from Bajawa to Ruteng, along, around and over the mountain range, in some places the road in so good its as if when the landscape was formed it came complete with tarmac.  In other places nature is belittling human effort to control the land by tossing boulders as if they are pebbles; around one hairpin we have to dodge a fresh rock that is bigger than the 4×4 we are in.  We will spend the next four days partnering Ayo Indonesia who has a packed schedule in store.  Since they begun their work they have listened to communities and together negotiated strategies forward; from agriculture and roads to advocacy and education.

At the Ayo Indonesia office they have recalled field staff and invited people from local organisations, including Indonesia’s national family planning organisation; there are over twentyfive community activists.  One of the women immediately asks Inna why she does this work focusing on abortion.  Sometimes this could be a principled ‘why’ as in ‘how dare you’, at other times it is a ‘why’ of passing curiosity.  It is always a question that deserves a succinct answer because since 2009 women having abortions and those avocating on abortion face a fifteen year jail sentence.  Conversation then goes from sex and gender to contraception rights and informed choices.  Inna is explaining that women not only have a right to contraception but a right to know the related side effects and an option to refuse.  In the past Indonesia’s national family planning organisation has provided contraception without telling people of the side effects, not only breaking some medical principles but endangering women’s bodies and relationships.  The representative today reacts to by talking about the culture of Flores and Manggari, how if women were informed many would refuse to use contraception.  Inna responds by suggesting that its not simply about chucking information at people but how they are informed and also explaining coping strategies.  I had a conversation with one women whose mother suffered from heavy bleeding for over twentyfive years, nobody knew that she had a intrauterine device and not even she believed that it was the cause of the heavy bleeding until last year when it was ‘discovered’ and removed.  At the end, as always, people are asking for more information and copies of presentations.

Over one hundred nuns look after a sparkling building, six nuns look after almost two hundred orphans, the logic isn’t in the distance…

Later that day we are taken to an orphanage where some one hundred and fifty children, many with visual, hearing and speaking disabilities, are awaiting us.  There isn’t time to work in smaller groups and we must sieze the opportunity.  ‘Salamat sore’ [good afternoon] I say, ‘salamat sore’ they roar back.  The concert has begun.   So that those with physical disabilities are included from the beginning I suggested doing a few brief Shakti exercises and when it comes to describing the the female reproductive system I had the idea for everyone to touch their own eyes (ovaries), follow the eyebrows (fallopian tubes), down the nose (cervix) to the nostrils (vagina).  Perhaps I am not the first to have this idea but I am happy to see so many children doing the actions; the idea for the male reproductive system was certainly less original!  We do workshops with four or five big groups of children at schools, orphanages and nunneries.  The children are invariably split into groups, asked to think of changes during puberty, and then to feedback in front of everyone.  At times these moments are like concerts with someone coyly saying ‘menstruation’ followed by houls of laughter and Inna cheekily asking ‘what did they say’ getting more and more to shout ‘menstruation’; it is and excellent to watch as permission is granted to say taboo words and discuss subjects, for some, for the first time.  At other times these moments are like politcal rallies with everybody listening with great intensity and taking notes as Inna writes a keyword.

Ayo Indonesia also take us to do a workshop with one of the villages that they have worked with.  Over twenty villagers greet us; the older they are the darker they are, from all those years under the sun in the fields I guess.  We are treated to an organic lunch fresh from their labour.  There are also eight students from a nearby college doing a two month field study in the village.  Its hot under the tin roof and I go out for a break.  Quickly the students have followed me and I feel guilty because I assume they want to practice English.  They introduce themselves and we chat and then I ask them why they left the workshop, was it not interesting.  They embarrasingly reply that ‘too many taboo words are being used’.  I ask what words but none want to say.  Having met so many children over the past few days that have really embraced the opportunity to discuss these topics it is suprising to hear this from people in thier early twenties.  I say lets go back in and they gradually follow as Inna is explaining about cervix exminations and breast examinations.  I can tell they are uncomfortable throughout.  At the end of the four days in Ruteng Inna tells me we have met over fourhundred people!

Conservative nuns, good nuns, nice nuns, polite nuns.  Don’t think none, don’t talk none, don’t see none…

I, like Inna and Ayo Indonesia, appreciate the satellite workshops as an opportunity not just to present information to others but to learn from communities about sexuality and reproduction.  We know that we cannot rely on governments to meet our daily needs or to save us in times of crisis.  Only by listening to each other and being willing to take on projects together, with or without government assistance, can we find solutions to the problems we face.  These people are too busy for protesting; they are living their lives, not demanding to be told how to live.

peace…

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