ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA — As part of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, the United Nations in Indonesia, together with the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection (KPPPA), UN Women, and UNFPA, organized the UNiTE 2025 Film Screening and Discussion today, December 5, 2025 at CGV, FX Sudirman, to deepen public awareness and strengthen collective action to end violence against women and girls (VAWG), including its fastest-growing form — digital violence.
The event marked the official launch of five short films produced under the “UNiTE Short Film Fellowship 2025”, an initiative supported by Global Affairs Canada and implemented in collaboration with Siklus Indonesia, Minikino, ILO, UNDP, UNESCO, UNIDO, UN Volunteers, and WHO.
UN Women and UNFPA Indonesia opened applications for the UNiTE Short Film Fellowship on 18 September 2025. The brief asked filmmakers to submit short film story ideas with the theme of violence against women and girls.
Of more than 180 applicants, the panel selected five filmmaker’ groups through a competitive process that included proposal reviews and interviews. The filmmakers participated in a series of in-person and online workshops focused on strengthening their filmmaking skills and deepening their knowledge of VAWG. Each team received production funding, tailored mentorship from experienced filmmakers, and guidance from a gender equality expert to help shape responsible narratives. Following submission of the final film on 28 November, the short films are screened for the public on 5-7 December 2025.
Created by five Indonesian filmmakers, the short films explore the lived realities of women and girls affected by violence across public, private, and digital spaces. The films challenge audiences to see gender-based violence not as isolated acts, but as a systemic challenge requiring collective action.
This year’s global theme, “UNiTE to End Digital Violence against All Women and Girls,” underscores how technological change has expanded the landscape of abuse, from online stalking and harassment to image-based exploitation and psychological violence.
In Indonesia, the scale of the problem remains alarming, with the 2024 National Survey on Women’s Life Experiences (SPHPN) showing that one in four women aged 15-64 has experienced violence in her lifetime. Meanwhile, the National Commission on Violence against (Komnas Perempuan) recorded over 445,000 cases of violence against women in 2024, and civil society organization SAFEnet received nearly 2,000 reports of online gender-based violence, more than half involving women.
Over the past two decades, the country has strengthened its legal framework through measures such as the Law on Domestic Violence and the Law on Sexual Violence Crimes (UU TPKS) and the Law on Electronic Information and Transactions (UU ITE) that contain articles that cover digital violence.
The Ministry of Communications and Digital Affairs (Komdigi) also provides a portal to report negative content, aduankonten.id. However, implementation challenges, harmful social norms, and underreporting continue to undermine progress, particularly in cases involving digital harm.
Speaking at the event, the Deputy Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection, Veronica Tan, emphasized that addressing violence against women requires collaboration.
“The digital world is like a double edged sword–it comes with risks but it also offers us opportunities. We must use digital platforms together for our collective campaign. And we must use them responsibly,” she said.
“Every child in Indonesia is our child. That’s why it’s important for us to collaborate in our collective movement to end violence against women and girls.”
The Deputy Minister further underscored that legal reform must go hand in hand with public engagement and education to dismantle the social norms that allow violence to persist.
She stressed that culture, media, and narrative are powerful forces in shaping how society understands gender equality and justice. This is why initiatives that speak through creative mediums are critical in broadening awareness beyond policy circles into everyday life.
Hassan Mohtashami, UNFPA Representative in Indonesia, highlighted the power of storytelling in the campaign for ending violence against women and girls.
“Stories help us relate easily with issues of violence against women. Let’s continue telling these stories. Let’s remind ourselves that what we see in these films, they are not merely stories.They are reflections of what’s going on in the community,” he said.
“These stories are realities for too many women and girls in Indonesia, in the world. We need to remember that this is our collective responsibility as a community to make sure that women and girls live free from violence and discrimination.”
The UN Women Indonesia Representative and Liaison to ASEAN Ulziisuren Jamsran said that violence against women and girls is rooted in inequality that is reinforced through silence.
She stressed the importance of challenging the harmful norms that normalize VAWG.
“The stories on screen can open safe spaces for conversations. Film has the power to shift perceptions, stir empathy that leads to action, and inspire every viewer to examine their role in shaping an environment where women and girls can live free from violence and break the fear that silences them.”
The screening was followed by a discussion involving filmmakers, students, civil society organizations, development partners, and policymakers. It provided space for open dialogue on prevention, justice, and survivor-centered responses.
The UNiTE Short Film Fellowship 2025 represents a strategic investment in youth leadership, creative advocacy, and cultural change. By equipping filmmakers with both knowledge and technical skills, the programme cultivates voices that can challenge silence and inspire solidarity across communities.
The five UNiTE Short Film Fellowship 2025 recipient teams are:
▪️Gertak Film, Pontianak, “FOTOME” film
▪️Kembang Gula, Solo, “Potret (Glimpse)”
▪️Kupang Film Community, Kupang, “Malam Sepanjang Nafas (A Night As Long As Breath)”
▪️KWRSS, Makassar, “DiRIAS Perias (Dressed by Makeup Artist)”
▪️OMG Film, Yogyakarta, “Bubble Trouble”
(AT Network)
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