The Community-Based Services Forum is Supporting Women in Deli Serdang

HAPSARI, a MAMPU Partner in Deli Serdang, North Sumatra Province that focuses on the issue of violence against women and children, is increasing support for victims through the Community Based Services Forum at the district level. Community-based services are services provided by village-level community groups to assist women and children victims of violence, and to support efforts to increase women’s access to basic social services. The provision of the services involves cooperation between various stakeholders, including grassroots organisations and local government.

In 2018, the Denai Kuala Village Government demonstrated its commitment to community-based service providers with its Village Regulation on Facilitating the Protection of Women and Children. HAPSARI then pushed for the formulation of the Regency Level Community Based Services Forum in Deli Serdang, to try and replicate the successes in Denai Kuala. The creation of the Forum also led to the community-based service providers obtaining legal standing, an organisational structure, and a work program.

The Forum is working to increase women’s participation in the community as social mobilisers, encourage local governments to support women victims of violence and support efforts to increase the skills and capacity of village women.