"The sexual violence prevention bill is needed as a legal basis for sexual violence handling with victim's rights and their recovery prioritized," he stated at the Indonesia Women Journalist Forum webinar observed from Jakarta on Saturday.
The bill will address the issue of reporting sexual violence, he said. The filing of a report often requires witness testimony and puts a further burden on the victim, he explained.
"Our current regulation does not recognize victims' testimony can stand on its own without witness testimony. How weird that the testimony of victims who suffered sexual violence is not recognized," he remarked.
Related news: Progress of sexual violence prevention bill offers hope for victims
He said he hoped the sexual violence prevention bill will protect the rights of sexual violence victims.
"While we continue our effort to protect sexual violence victims, a legal basis must be provided by the sexual violence prevention bill to ensure the rights of the victims upon the bill's passing," Nahar said.
The bill will provide a legal basis for proper case handling, protection, and recovery of sexual violence victims, the deputy said and expressed confidence that it will help address rampant sexual violence in the country.
The sexual violence prevention bill, proposed in 2016, has been continuously delayed due to infighting between parliamentary parties in the House of Representatives (DPR RI) and opposition from several sections of the public.
Though designated as the legislature's initiative on Wednesday (December 8, 2021), which allows the bill to proceed to the next step before ratification, it was excluded from the bills that were ratified during the DPR RI's plenary session on Thursday (December 16, 2021).
Related news: KSP lauds progress made on sexual violence prevention bill
Translator: Anita Permata D, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Suharto
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