10-8-2023 (JAKARTA) Poverty-stricken women from rural areas, like the harrowing story of Khotimah, find themselves caught in a cycle of vulnerability and abuse as they are driven to seek work in bustling cities, all while facing unimaginable challenges.
“We owed money in our village. There was no other choice,” Khotimah, a survivor of appalling mistreatment, revealed, shedding light on the desperate circumstances that led her to urban employment.
Her heart-wrenching account exposes the darker side of this economic migration, where exploitation and cruelty are often the grim realities that await those seeking a way out of poverty.
Khotimah’s ordeal began shortly after her arrival in April 2022, when baseless accusations of petty theft were levelled against her. The subsequent abuse she suffered was nothing short of torturous, with incidents of physical and psychological torment occurring over several months.
Details of her torment paint a haunting picture: she was subjected to drinking dog urine and consuming its waste, being physically assaulted by multiple individuals, scalded by boiling water, and even restrained in chains. Her body bore the scars of this brutality – a constant reminder of the horrors she endured.
The extent of her suffering reached an unfathomable low when Khotimah was found whimpering on the floor, her once-long hair now brutally chopped short. Her legs were marred by wounds oozing blood and pus, and her arms bore the cruel marks of cigarette burns.
Her mother, Eni Sopiyah, tearfully recounted the agonizing moment when she discovered her daughter’s battered state. “She was crying soundlessly. I woke my husband up and told him ‘Our child is home, but she is dying’,” Eni shared, describing the heart-wrenching scene that unfolded.
In the aftermath of this horrific ordeal, Khotimah is determined to secure justice not only for herself but also for countless others who have suffered similarly. Teaming up with the advocacy group Jala PRT, she is courageously pursuing legal action against her abusers, invoking sexual abuse and human trafficking laws.
However, Khotimah’s story is just one chapter in a wider narrative of systemic abuse and neglect. A pressing concern that echoes through these stories is the glaring absence of a comprehensive domestic workers’ protection law. Advocates and rights groups stress that true progress cannot be achieved by demanding safeguards from other nations while failing to address and rectify domestic deficiencies.
As the call for justice and protection intensifies, it is crucial for society and policymakers alike to heed the rallying cry and ensure that no more individuals like Khotimah suffer in silence.
