Sexual Violence Crimes are Like the Iceberg Phenomenon

KomnasAnak.com, NASIONAL - Expert Staff for Development Communication at the Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection (Kemen PPPA), Ratna Susianawati said that case of sexual violence are like an iceberg phenomenon. This means that there are still many cases of violence that occur in the community but are not reported.

 

“The victims, which are generally women and children, not only suffer from physical and mental, psychological and physical, but also experience bleeding, damage, torture, cruelty, and inhuman torture to death,” said Ratna when delivering speech from the Minister I Gusti Ayu Bitang Puspayoga in an seminar held by the Indonesian Women’s Congress, Friday 13 November.

 

Ratna said the victims who experienced suffer need health rehabilitation services, social rehabilitation, social reintegration, assistance and legal assistance. Victims should also got restitution or compensation for material and immaterial losses from the perpetrator.

 

According to the 2018 National Life Experience Survey for Children and Adolescents conducted by the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection and the Central Statistics Agency, one of 17 boys has experienced sexual violence, and one of 11 girls has experience sexual violence.

 

“Data on the Information System for Women and Children also records that some of the victims of violence against children are victims of sexual violence,” she said.

 

Therefore, Ratna said the Draft Law on the Elimination of Sexual Violence is very important and cannot be postponed any  longer. To gather various perspectives, views, effort, opinions, and input from various party, the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection continues to open space for discussion and dialogue.

 

This, according to Ratna, is also in accordance with the five priority issues mandated by President Joko Widodo to the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection, one of which is reducing violence against women and children. She said, the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection had also received additional duties and functions as a final referral service provider for women victims of violence and children who needed special protection.

(Editor: Melina)