Forcing your wife to have sex is rape

JAKARTA (ANN): In response to a recent case of a man allegedly assaulting his wife for refusing sex, the National Commission on Violence against Women (Komnas Perempuan) has said that forcing your wife to have sex is a form of rape, known as marital rape.

Komnas Perempuan commissioner Adriana said that marital rape was also a form of domestic violence.

“Domestic abuse means that [the husband] is forcing his wife to do something without her consent. That’s a form of rape or sexual violence against women that in extreme cases could end in death,” Adriana said on Monday as quoted by kompas.com.

Marital rape is often overlooked by many parties, including husband and wife, she said, adding that many victims of marital rape opted not to file a report to the police. 

“Cases like this are often not taken seriously even though it’s important. Unfortunately, many victims don’t consider their husband's actions to be rape,” Adriana said.

Police also tend not to take such cases seriously, and often urge for marital rape cases to be settled personally.

The possibility of trauma for children in households where marital rape takes place should also not be ignored.

“The trauma for sexual assault is huge for children and the victim. There could be long-term effects for the child, and in the worst case they could emulate the abuser.” Adriana said.

Marital rape came under the spotlight after the alleged abuse of a woman, identified only as FZ, by her husband, identified only as AN. AN allegedly attacked FZ with a machete after she refused to have sex with him in their home.

FZ is currently being treated at a hospital and is in a stable condition

AN has been charged under the 2004 law on the elimination of domestic violence and faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison. – The Jakarta Post/Asia News Network