Jakarta (ANTARA) - Minister of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection Bintang Puspayoga has urged all parties to use National Batik Day as a momentum to end violence against women and children.

Ending violence against women and children is expected to make children's development optimal and provide opportunities for women to optimize the potential that they have, she said in a press statement issued on Monday.

During the National Batik Day commemoration, she also disseminated information about Law No. 12 of 2022 on Sexual Violence Crime.

"This is a comprehensive law, lex specialis law that regulates prevention, handling, protection, and empowerment. This is our effort for providing the best assistance to victims," she said.

Sexual violence in Indonesia is an iceberg phenomenon, meaning that the actual number of cases far exceeds the number of reported cases, Puspayoga underlined.

"Lately, there have been no days without news on sexual violence. This is closely related to the fact that the people have become brave in speaking up and reporting (such cases),” she said.

Related news: Indonesia renews commitment to end violence against children

In addition to sexual violence, she also emphasized the need to pay special attention to the issue of child marriage.

"The Child Forum acts as initiator and reporter. It acts as an initiator by preventing marriage of children and then reporter when it hears or sees indications of child marriage among you," she explained.

Meanwhile, Women's Rights Protection Deputy at the Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection Ratna Susianawati said that social media is playing a role in unveiling various violence cases.

The increasing trend of violence case reporting amid a decline in violence prevalence is a positive sign, she highlighted.

This means that people have started to become brave in filing reports through the available reporting service.

Related news: VP Amin calls for end to violence at educational institutions







Translator: Anita Permata D, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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