The Independent Team has the main task of finding facts and providing recommendations to resolve cases of sexual violence in a maximum of one month
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Cooperatives and SMEs Ministry supports the resolution of sexual violence case that took place in their administration by forming an Independent Team.

"The Independent Team has the main task of finding facts and providing recommendations to resolve cases of sexual violence in a maximum of one month," Cooperatives and SMEs Minister Teten Masduki noted in a written statement received here on Wednesday.

The team involved some stakeholders, including the ministry itself represented by Special Staff of Minister for Community Economics at the Cooperatives and SMEs Ministry, M. Riza Damanik; Women's Empowerment and Child Protection Ministry; and women activists: Sri Nurherwati, Ririn Stefsani, and Ratna Bataramunti.

Minister Masduki also noted that the Independent Team also had another task of formulating an internal SOP for handling sexual crimes at the ministry's scope within a period of three months in a bid to improve the internal framework of the institution.

The ministry is also ready to provide supporting data and pursue extensive collaboration with the team, as a means to support case resolution, so that protection of the victim's family at the ministry is guaranteed, and there will be no intimidation.

"(It is) because the Cooperatives and SMEs Ministry does not tolerate the practice of sexual violence. If (one) still sees it not meeting the principles of justice, we will immediately follow up," the minister stated.

Based on information obtained from the ministry regarding recent developments, the victim's family has reopened cases of sexual violence back in 2019 that befell ND, the victim, by reporting back to LBH APIK and the Ombudsman.

Furthermore, the ministry urged the victim's family to conduct a pretrial for the case that had gone through the termination of police investigation.

Female activist Ririn Stefsani stated that legal measures will continue to be pursued, so that the perpetrators get the justice they deserve and the victims get protection and have their rights fulfilled in a fair manner.

"We will also coordinate with Witness and Victim Protection and the police in resolving cases. The current sanctions do not meet ethics (standard) and it is the team's job to complete documents and provide sanctions according to the perpetrator's crime," she noted.

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Translator: Sinta Ambarwati, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Sri Haryati
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