Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK) has reminded that the needs of child victims of rape by an owner of an Islamic boarding school (Pesantren) in West Java be fulfilled and protected.

“This is important on account of the fact that the needs of victims are still very high because they are still children," Deputy Chairperson of LPSK Livia Istania Iskandar noted in a written statement received here Thursday.

She cited an example that those children’s needs for education must be taken into account and fulfilled, especially by the regional government.

To this end, the regional government should ensure that children, who are victims of rape, can study in school again, as they join the pesantren to receive education.

However, it is crucial to provide a safe place for those victims to study and continue their education. Earlier, the LPSK had found that a raped individual was rejected by a school on account of the status of being a victim of rape.

“This is sad because they have become victims. Instead of receiving support, they are not accepted to go to school," she affirmed.

At the same time, Iskandar assessed that the public should continue to support victims of rape and free them from negative stigmas deemed crucial to ensure that they can continue to lead a normal life.

In addition, the LPSK is optimistic that the mass media would continue to protect the victims’ personal identity.

Apart from protection for rape victims, the LPSK also reminded that children born out of rape must receive the government's attention, so they could grow and be nurtured well.

“This, of course, must also become a concern for us all. There are a total of eight children born of rape in this case,” she remarked.

In this rape case, the LPSK is currently offering protection to 29 people out of which 12 are still underaged comprising the reporter, witness or victim, and witnesses while giving testimony during the trial of alleged criminal acts of child rape.

The defendant in this case is Herry Wirawan, the boarding school owner.

Translator: Muhammad Zulfikar, Raka Adji
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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