Jayapura (ANTARA News) - Women Empowerment and Child Protection Minister Yohana Yembise visited Papua on Wednesday to popularize the idea of granting castration punishment to child rapists, or pedophiles.

"In a limited cabinet meeting recently, President Joko Widodo said he wanted to take firm action, such as imposing castration punishment on those committing sexual crimes against women and children," Minister Yembise affirmed here on Wednesday.

Yembise explained that men who committed sexual crimes against women and children would undergo castration through different methods, such as injections.

"Castration punishment was once rejected as it is against human rights, but President Widodo said that the rights of women and children also need to be protected, and hence, such a punishment is needed," she emphasized.

The minister said that besides castration through the administration of injections, the perpetrators of sexual crimes against women and children could also be awarded a life sentence.

"Various forms of stern punishment have been imposed on the culprits of sexual crimes against women and children. We also hope that the president would agree to issue a government regulation in lieu of the law (Perppu) on the protection of women and children from sexual crimes," she remarked.

Yembise affirmed that if the Perppu is issued, the rights of women and children would be protected, and the task force set up for that purpose could begin action in the field.

"Crimes against women and children are international issues, and hence, protecting their rights has garnered global attention. In future, our tasks will then become increasingly important," Minister Yembise stated.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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