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House set to pass sexual violence bill next week
Bill is a comprehensive legal framework in handling sexual violence much awaited by the Indonesian public.
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Women’s rights activists protest in front of the House of Representatives in Jakarta in support of the sexual violence eradication bill, which has been languishing since 2016 while rates of sexual violence remain high. (JP/Donny Fernando)
T
he House of Representatives plans to pass the sexual violence bill into law in a plenary session next week. It is one last step toward providing a comprehensive legal framework for handling sexual violence, much awaited by the Indonesian public, especially women's groups and victims.
Lawmakers and the government had been fast-tracking deliberations since March 28, hosting a nine-day series of meetings that were also attended by representatives of women's groups and the National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan).
During a session on Wednesday, the bill secured approval from the government and eight of nine House factions: the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), Golkar, Gerindra, the NasDems, the National Awakening Party (PKB), the National Mandate Party (PAN), the United Development Party (PPP) and the Democratic Party.
Only the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) objects to the bill, arguing that it should be deliberated along with the Criminal Code (KUHP) amendment. The PKS still insists that the bill should ban adultery, extramarital sex and nontraditional orientations such as lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) sexuality.
Lawmakers will bring the bill for passage in the next plenary session.
Bill working group leader and House Legislation Body (Baleg) deputy chairman Willy Aditya told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday that he had sent a letter to the House Steering Committee (Bamus) notifying that the first level of deliberation had been completed.
Willy hoped the bill could be passed into law before lawmakers enter recess on April 15.
