The National Commission on Violence against Women says the Transportation Ministry should be held responsible in rape cases taking place on public transportation.
“A sense of safety is one of the basic rights acknowledged by and guaranteed under the Constitution. The Transportation Ministry, as part of the government, has a responsibility to meet that basic right, as mandated in the Constitution,” commission deputy chief Masruchah said Sunday as quoted by kompas.com.
She said the government needed to focus on improving transportation infrastructure by, for example, providing sufficient street illumination, carrying out routine patrols and deploying officers to crime-prone areas.
Strict regulations and tough punishment for vehicle owners and drivers alike are also needed to prevent recurrences of such cases, which ultimately put women at a disadvantage, particularly those from middle- and low-income households.
“Women from middle- and low-income families, who have to rely on public transportation, are the ones mainly disadvantaged and who have their rights violated when no improvements in public transportation are carried out,” she said.
She said the public also had to be vigilant again possible threats and report any suspicious circumstances to the police. (awd)
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