I have monitored the bill since it was drafted in 2016 until now when it is still being processed by the House.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo has asked the Law and Human Rights and Women's Empowerment and Child Protection (PPPA) ministers to coordinate with the House of Representatives (DPR) on expediting the sexual violence prevention bill (RUU TPKS).

"Thus, the bill discussion can be expedited," he said in a video broadcast on the Presidential Secretariat's YouTube channel here on Tuesday.

The House did not ratify the bill during the plenary session on December 16, 2021, he noted.

"I have monitored the bill since it was drafted in 2016 until now when it is still being processed by the House," the President said.

Furthermore, he emphasized that the protection of sexual violence victims must become a common concern.

“The victims of sexual violence against women must be treated immediately," he stressed.

The initial draft of RUU TPKS comprises 11 chapters, which consist of 40 articles, he said.

The first chapter explains general provisions, while the second one discusses sexual violence crimes, he added.

Related news: Legislator lauds President's stance on sexual violence prevention bill

There are four types of sexual violence regulated in the latest draft of the bill, comprising physical and non-physical sexual harassment, forced contraception, forced sexual intercourse, as well as sexual exploitation, he noted.

The issue has been a public concern in the past years, he said.

The National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) has said that it received 4,500 reports of violence against women during the January–October 2021 period, he said. The figure had doubled compared to 2020, he added.

The commission noted that the number of cases has continued to increase. They have also become more complex and extreme, it said. However, there has not been any adequate handling of the cases, it added.

Meanwhile, according to the PPPA Ministry, 12,566 cases of violence against children were registered during the January–November 2021 period.

The most common cases pertained to sexual violence (45 percent), psychological violence (19 percent), and physical violence (18 percent), it informed.

In addition, the ministry noted that 8,800 cases of violence against women were registered between January and November 2021.

They mostly pertained to physical violence (39 percent), psychological violence (29.8 percent), and sexual violence (11.33 percent), it added.

Related news: DPR Speaker asserts commitment to RUU TPKS ratification
Related news: Legal instrument needed to protect citizens from sexual violence: MPR



Translator: Desca Natalia, Uyu Liman
Editor: Suharto
Copyright © ANTARA 2022