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Public needs education on child abuse, says experts
Until the recent high-profile case of the murder of 8-year-old Engeline Margret Megawe, few people were aware of the extent of violence against children in the country, according to a psychological counselor from Womenâs Crisis Center (WCC) Rifka Annisa in Yogyakarta, Indiah Wayu A
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ntil the recent high-profile case of the murder of 8-year-old Engeline Margret Megawe, few people were aware of the extent of violence against children in the country, according to a psychological counselor from Women's Crisis Center (WCC) Rifka Annisa in Yogyakarta, Indiah Wayu A.
Violence against children, including sexual violence, was a common occurrence, she said.
'The public does not know how to prevent and overcome sexual violence against children,' Indiah said in Yogyakarta on Wednesday.
Indiah recounted her own experience of witnessing a situation in which a local community did not support a woman who wanted to file a police report after her baby daughter was molested.
In many cases, she said, reporting sexual violence against children to authorities was still considered taboo, especially when the abuser was known to the victim's family.
'This happened to our client. Her daughter was raped by a 70-year-old man who was their neighbor,' said Indiah.
She added the government had no serious policy dealing with sexual violence against children. It seemed that for many law enforcers, she said, battling terrorism or pursuing drug offender was much more important than combating sexual violence against children.
Police offers were often promoted for uncovering terrorism or drug cases, she said, whereas promotions were rarely awarded to officers who handled sexual violence against children.
'Imposing heavy sentences on perpetrators of sexual violence against children is part of prevention. In many cases, however, perpetrators of sexual assault have been given light sentences,' said Indiah, adding that sexual violence against children had debilitating long-term effects on victims.
Anastasia Suki Ratnasari of the Yogyakarta Women's Network said Indonesian people must be made aware of sexual violence against children, and given access to mechanisms to prevent it.
'Children must be taught to understand the way an adult touches another person. Parents must teach them how to react if they feel uncomfortable,' she said. (ebf)(+++)
