Implementing Policies to Eliminate Violence Against Women: Evidence from Indonesia

Subnational implementation of policies to eliminate violence against women (VAW) relies on local actions often shaped by diverse norms. This thesis examines subnational diffusion and implementation of VAW policies in Indonesia, a large emerging democracy with decentralised governance and legal pluralism. It analyses subnational VAW policy diffusion across 509 cities/regencies and the influence of religious and customary norms in Aceh and West Nusa Tenggara. The findings show that patriarchal norms enacted in institutional and customary practices constrain implementation. Policy networks enable contestation that strengthens anti-VAW norms and facilitates survivor-centred responses. VAW norms and networks co-evolve as dynamic processes through contestation.