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Sexual violence bill withdrawal risks sacrificing nation’s safety
The postponement of the sexual violence eradication bill deliberation will therefore have destructive effects.
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Women’s rights activists protest in front of the House of Representatives in Jakarta on July 7 in support of the sexual violence eradication bill, which has been languishing since 2016 while rates of sexual violence remain high. The activists plan to stage similar protests on coming Tuesdays. JP/Donny Fernando (JP/Donny Fernando)
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mid serious efforts to ease the suffering of women and all victims of sexual crimes, including children, the public was shocked by politicians at the House of Representatives, who decided to remove the bill on sexual violence from this year’s National Legislation Program.
Deputy chair of the House’s Commission VIII overseeing people’s welfare Marwan Dasopang said scheduling difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic were behind the withdrawal of the draft law, known as the PKS bill, from the table. Instead, the commission proposed deliberation of a bill on elderly welfare, he said.
Pulling out the PKS bill is in retrospect a serious breach of painstaking efforts of activists on behalf of victims of sexual violence to get the bill passed. Again, the politicians deny the rights of victims of sexual crimes. A political decision was taken arbitrarily and with a very political nuance guised under technical apologia of "very difficult" as expressed by one of the lawmakers.
Accumulation of cases of sexual crimes in various regions and, consequently, public concerns and pressures triggered the formulation of the PKS bill. Public criticism mounted against slow response to sex violence cases. On the other hand, the persistent demand for immediate legislation of the bill shows public awareness of individual safety and protection from the threat of sexual crimes.
The bill was designed to protect all parties (in many cases not only women but also boys and girls) from sexual violence. The public turned angry whenever the crime occurred in Indonesia.
The National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) has found that crimes and violence victimize mostly women and children. Sexual violence is also likely to happen in environments that are supposed to be safe for children. The commission discovered in its annual report of 2020 that perpetrators of sexual violence were, among others, teachers (123 cases) and religious teachers (15 cases).
Those cases prove there are more spaces prone to sexual violence. The postponement of the PKS bill deliberation will therefore have destructive effects.
