What is art but a medium of exploration and critics for the marginalized and oppressed groups? What is art but a tool for resistance against injustice, to overcome marginalization?

Through poems, Indonesian poet and researcher Zubaidah Djohar has dedicated herself to amplifying the voices of the marginalized. Particularly women, indigenous communities, people with disabilities, and children, through her literary works. For her, writing transcends artistic expression; it is a moral obligation to fight for justice for those who are often overlooked.

Zubaidah Djohar, along with the other 2 artists from Indonesia—Sekar Puti and Agung Prabowo—participated in the exhibition ‘Stemflow: South by Southeast’. Patrick Flores (Philippines) and Reuben Keehan (Australia) curated the event. Further, Osage Art Foundation presented the exhibition, which is still ongoing from October 12 to December 31, 2024, in Kwun Tong, Hong Kong. This exhibition includes 19 artists from various countries to display their works there as well.

Zubaidah presents three of her poems in the exhibition. The titles are ‘Is This Your Peace, Sir?’, ‘Building a Boat in Paradise’, and ‘Peace for Whom?’. She included the poems drawn from her 2008 research on women and peace. 

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“These works were born from anger and frustration at Aceh’s situation at the time, as well as hope for the recovery of female victims,” said Zubaidah in her speech. To this day, their messages remain relevant, both to Aceh and the world at large. Whereas, the realization of true peace can only doable when all groups receive equal justice without exception.

The works highlight the role of art as a means of combating injustice born of superficial peace. The three poems question widely accepted narratives of peace. Revealing that in conflict-affected areas like Aceh, peace is often merely symbolic. Women and children continue to suffer even though formal violence has ceased. Art becomes a witness to historical injustice, while political narratives often ignore the hidden traumas women endure during and after conflict. UN Women reports that gender-based violence frequently escalates after conflict, and the inclusion of women are rarely happens in reconciliation efforts.

Zubaidah added, “In this [the exhibition] context, my poetry serves as an act of resistance, drawing attention to the often-overlooked role of women in peacebuilding. The exhibition also addresses how colonialism severed cultural ties between Asia and the South Pacific. My poems reflect the ongoing trauma faced by women in Aceh and their exclusion from the benefits of peace, even after the 2005 peace agreement.”

She explained further, women remain underrepresented in reconciliation processes, thus prolonging their trauma. It was based on her research from 2000 to 2020, alongside data from Amnesty International and local NGOs. UN Women reports that globally, women account for only 13% of peace negotiators. It was consistent with her findings on women’s involvement in conflict resolution in 2003, as well as Zubaidah’s 2008 research commissioned by the World Bank.

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In Aceh, women continue to face physical and psychological violence and the marginalization against them happens in decision-making processes. Zubaidah then explained each of her poems’ meanings.

‘Is This Your Peace, Sir?’ highlights how various forms of violence and economic exclusion persist despite peace claims. ‘Peace for Whom?’ questions who actually benefits from peace. While ‘Building a Boat in Paradise’ portrays the struggle of survivors to recover amidst unfulfilled promises of aid, and critiques the mismanagement of assistance.

Art Goes Beyond Marginalization

‘The Stemflow: South by Southeast’ exhibition itself explores the colonial marginalization of cross-border cultures. Through art, it initiates new dialogues, questioning the historical processes that have sidelined Southeast Asia and the South Pacific.

Osage Art Foundation has launched the ‘Regional Perspectives’ platform since 2008 to address the needs for fostering cultural conversations happening within Asia and beyond. As early as 2014, the Foundation together with Patrick Flores has recognised and anticipated the importance of a sharper reading into the Global North and West and a keener shift to the Global South and East.

The launch of ‘South by Southeast’ series was under the ‘Regional Perspectives’ platform in 2015. It is to curate and catalyze for consistency the cultural exchanges occurring across these regions while considering their tiesto other geographical and geopolitical contexts. It aims to broaden and deepen the understanding of the southeast in Asia on a global scale by making lateral trajectories into the south, the east, and the southeast in other parts of the world. 

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In this third iteration, the ‘Stemflow: South by Southeast’, the southeast is made to incline to the South Pacific. Patrick Flores, in his curatorial brief, stated, “The exhibition speaks to the evolving scenarios in the world in the present. Such as the wars in Europe and the tension in the seas around the region. By redrawing the map and remapping the world through the vector of the southeast. The project seeks to offer imaginations of belonging that stems from multiple wellsprings of origin, emergence, and assembly.”

Co-curator Reuben Keehan said, “Stemflow constructs a space of correspondence. Where artists draw on historical encounters, linguistic and cultural affinities, shared experiences of colonisation and exploitation, and entanglements of migration and labour to suggest emergent solidarities and possible modes of being together.” The exhibition suggests frameworks of cultural continuity and disjuncture. Where art provides a space for diverse imaginaries to contend, transcending fixed concepts like ‘Asia’ or ‘Pacific’.

From Aceh to Palestine: Lacking Justice for Victims of Gender-Based Violence

Zubaidah Djohar presented her artworks, coming far away from Indonesia to Hong Kong, definitely not for nothing. She presented the harsh reality of women in Indonesia—particularly in Aceh, where she came from—to put it in a broader global context of how justice for female victims of gender-based violence is still lacking.

Aceh is often considered a successful case of conflict resolution. However, data reveals that female survivors did not receive sufficient recovery support. The allocation for rehabilitating female survivors was only 10% of the Rp 41 trillion in international aid. While the remaining 90% focused on physical reconstruction and male ex-combatants.

Komnas Perempuan reports that five years after the peace agreement, 60% of female conflict survivors still lacked adequate mental health services. Out of 100 reported cases of sexual violence, legal process happened to only six of them. This illustrated the lack of justice for female victims of sexual violence.

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The situation in Aceh reflects a global pattern where women remain the primary victims of conflict. UN Women reports that 80% of refugees worldwide are women and children, who face limited access to healthcare, psychological support, and economic recovery opportunities. Only one in ten cases of sexual violence is prosecuted in international courts, underscoring the persistent failure to deliver justice to women.

Similar patterns can be seen in Afghanistan, Yemen, and Ukraine. Following the withdrawal of international forces and the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, the marginalization of Afghan women have once again been happened. With restricted access to education and employment, despite international aid efforts.

In Yemen, UNICEF and UNDP report that women have experienced drastic reductions in access to food, healthcare, and education. Ukrainian women refugees face increased risks of sexual violence and human trafficking. International aid has not been sufficient to ensure sustainable recovery for women in these two countries.

Similarly, the humanitarian crisis in Palestine represents an unequivocal tragedy and a grave violation of international humanitarian law. With over 42,000 fatalities reported (Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza, 2024), while data from the preceding year indicates that 1.9 million individuals have been displaced, predominantly women and children (UN Women, 2023). The scale of suffering is both catastrophic and unacceptable. Women face disproportionate exposure to gender-based violence. While food insecurity severely impacts female-headed households, exacerbating existing vulnerabilities. It is imperative to immediately cease hostilities, ensure unrestricted humanitarian access, deliver gender-responsive emergency aid, and mobilize robust multilateral diplomacy to protect lives and forge a pathway toward inclusive and sustainable peace.

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Zubaidah did her own research in 2003 and 2008. She found out that, during the Aceh conflict (1976–2005), women experienced physical and sexual violence. Including rape by the military. In the post-conflict period, aid primarily targeted male ex-combatants. Additionally, data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) shows that 30% of women in Aceh live below the poverty line, with limited access to skills training or financial assistance. Health conditions also remain poor, with high maternal mortality rates.

In her speech, Zubaidah stated, The Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO) identifies the failure to incorporate gender-inclusive perspectives into peace policies as a key factor in unsustainable post-conflict recovery. In Aceh, aid has been primarily directed towards physical infrastructure development, rather than addressing the social needs of women and children. The same pattern is evident in Afghanistan, Yemen, and Ukraine, where aid priorities do not sufficiently support women.

She then concluded, “Empowering female conflict survivors and integrating gender perspectives into peace policies is not only crucial for Aceh but also a global necessity.” Furthermore, she continued that every effort to secure justice for female and child survivors in Aceh will contribute to more inclusive and sustainable global peace.

“By strengthening women’s rights and ensuring their involvement in every stage of reconciliation and recovery, we can create a fair and effective model of peace for conflict-affected communities worldwide.”

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Additionally, she said, cross-country collaboration in utilizing technology, empowering local potential, and promoting green entrepreneurship will open new opportunities for women globally. It can accelerate post-conflict economic recovery, and create a more inclusive and sustainable world. Zubaidah mentioned, true peace can only be achieved by restoring all victims of conflict. Especially women and children, who have long been marginalized. “In this way, we will redefine the meaning of peace—not as an empty symbol, but as a condition that brings justice, prosperity, and sustainability for all,” she added.

Through these initiatives, Zubaidah believed that Aceh can serve as a global example. “Demonstrating how inclusive and sustainable policy changes can lead to a more just and meaningful peace, not only for one generation but for the future of humanity.”