Women, who have entered the menopause phase, can still likely become victims of sexual violence, member of the National Commission on Violence against Women (Komnas Perempuan) Retty Ratnawati told ANTARA here, Tuesday evening.

A certain erroneous view exists among people that menopausal women will never experience sexual violence, Ratnawati remarked.

This is despite the fact that women can always fall victim to sexual violence throughout their life, she noted.

The commission urged the government to delve into sexual violence cases involving elderly women as victims in order to undertake prevention, handling, and recovery measures.

Ratnawati also called on the government to have an accurate data on elderly people, so that they do not lose their rights.

“The government is also expected to develop easily accessible administration system since electronic-based government system with administration digitalization exists. Ensure that they do not lose their rights because they do not understand this,” she remarked.

Law No. 13 of 1998 on Elderly Prosperity has stipulated the rights of elderly people. However, the content of the law do not yet have a gender perspective, she noted.

She emphasized the need for a gender perspective within the law in accordance with the current developments and to reduce the poverty rate among elderly women.

“Women also tend to have a higher poverty rate as compared to men of the same age,” she stated.

On the occasion, Ratnawati also advised young women to start learning about menopause, so that they can be more ready when they enter the menopause period and know how to care about their health early on.

Menopause is the natural end of a menstruation cycle that usually occurs when women enter the age of 45 to 55 years.

Source: Antara News