Electronic-based sexual violence has been increasing recently. The existing laws must be able to protect every citizen from the threat.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Deputy Speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Lestari Moerdijat has said that it must be ensured that the existing laws in Indonesia protect people from technology-facilitated sexual violence.

"Electronic-based sexual violence has been increasing recently. The existing laws must be able to protect every citizen from the threat," she stressed in a statement received here on Tuesday.

She noted that efforts to synchronize laws in the country must be encouraged.

"This is to create security and comfort for every citizen in living their lives," she said.

Moerdijat noted that based on the records of the National Commission on Violence against Women (Komnas Perempuan), from May 2022 to December 2023, there were 4,179 reports of sexual violence.

Technology-facilitated sexual violence accounted for the highest number of reports at 2,776, followed by sexual harassment (623) and rape.

Quoting Komnas Perempuan, she said that there is a lack of synchronization between Law Number 12 of 2022 concerning Sexual Violence Crimes and other laws, for instance, Law Number 1 of 2024 concerning the Second Amendment to Law Number 11 of 2008 concerning Electronic Information and Transactions.

She said that this hinders the handling of sexual violence cases legally because, in many cases of sexual violence, the position of victims is still very weak in the judiciary.

For this reason, she added, a solution must be found promptly to realize comprehensive protection for every citizen.

The MPR deputy speaker urged stakeholders and the community to pay serious attention to efforts to provide protection to every citizen against sexual violence.

"The state must be present in every development process which seeks to implement the Constitutional mandate, which, among others, orders the state to guarantee protection to every citizen," she added.

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Translator: Melalusa Susthira, Raka Adji
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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