Now is the time for the Sexual Violence Crime Law to be translated into regulations for technical implementationJakarta (ANTARA) - House Speaker Puan Maharani has urged the government to formulate derivative regulations of the Sexual Violence Crime Law without delay.
"Now is the time for the Sexual Violence Crime Law to be translated into regulations for technical implementation so that the enthusiasm during its preparation can immediately offer tangible effects. This is so that the Sexual Violence Crime Law can be applied and become a guideline for the apparatus," Maharani said in a statement received here on Wednesday.
She further said she is confident that should the derivative regulations be completed, the law can immediately be employed as a strong and comprehensive legal instrument for preventing sexual violence and regulating legal sanctions for perpetrators.
When Maharani ratified the law, she urged everyone to closely monitor its implementation.
She pointed out that everyone had agreed that the law is an effort to assist women and children, and its derivative regulation, which stipulates sanctions and others, must adopt a victim's perspective.
The bill was initiated in 2016, when Maharani was serving as Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture.
In the past, the regulation was called the Bill on the Elimination of Sexual Violence. After eight years of struggle, it has finally been passed as a law, she remarked.
She said she understood that some people still considered the law inadequate to deal with sexual violence crimes.
"Therefore, I compel (everyone) to follow up on this law in its implementation later to ensure that it really is useful in terms of mitigation, protection," she added.
The United Nations team in Indonesia lauded the ratification of the law, and said that it would aid survivors of sexual violence to get justice as well as punish perpetrators. The law would encourage the creation of safe spaces for women and girls.
"The ratification of this law is in line with Indonesia's commitment to the convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women (CEDAW)," the team said in an official statement.
The UN team in Indonesia also urged people to collectively support and oversee the comprehensive implementation of the new law.
Deputy Coordinator of Indonesian Women Titi Anggraini said that the ratification of the bill does not mark the end of the process, as there are still many things which need to be done, such as ensuring the aforementioned regulations for technical implementation.
Translator: Boyke Ledy W, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Sri Haryati
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