Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection underlined that building empathy among people is highly necessary in efforts to prevent violence against women and children.

"The empathy of families and the community (is needed) because this problem needs our empathy," the ministry's deputy for the protection of women's rights, Ratna Susianawati, said here on Friday.

She made the statement in response to the case involving the murder of a woman by her husband in Malang city, East Java.

She informed that her ministry, other ministries, institutions, and relevant stakeholders are continuing to educate the community so that when they come to know of, hear, or witness cases of violence around them, they can report them.

"It does not have to be the victim (who reports the case), but everyone who suspects, sees, or identifies the case (can report it)," she said.

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As per the details of the Malang case, a 61-year-old man, identified as JM, killed and mutilated his wife, NMS (55), on December 30, 2023. He surrendered to the police on December 31.

The Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection expressed deep regret over the case, noting that it is not the first such case that has resulted in the death of a woman. It said that it will continue to monitor the case.

"Again, women are the victims. This is something that we all need to pay serious attention to," Susianawati stressed.

According to her, to prevent violence against women, efforts to improve education and literacy must continue to be carried out to increase empathy in the community.

She further said that the legal process against the perpetrator must be continued in the Malang case.

Related news: Minister calls on women to speak out against domestic violence

Translator: Anita Permata, Raka Adji
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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