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House to involve ministries to combat sex crimes
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Protect us -- Schoolchildren call on all parties to prevent violence against children. (Kompas.com/Malik Afrian)
H
ouse of Representatives Commission VIII overseeing religious and social affairs is set to meet with representatives of the Culture and Education Ministry and the Religious Affairs Ministry to discuss a more concerted effort to combat sex crimes, says a lawmaker.
Commission VIII chairman Ali Taher Parasong said on Wednesday that an exact date for the work meeting with the two ministries had yet to be set.
Earlier, two House lawmakers expressed the need to involve the education and religious ministries in the deliberation of the sexual violence eradication bill.
They were speaking in a work meeting between Commission III and two ministers, Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Minister Yohana Yembise and Social Affairs Minister Khofifah Indar Parawansa, as well as Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) chairman Asrorun Niam Sholeh on Monday.
The meeting highlighted the need for the government to be swifter in handling sex crimes involving children. Several political party factions called for greater involvement from the two ministries in the sexual violence bill.
Golkar Party lawmaker Endang Srikarti Handayani and Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) lawmaker Samsu Niang deemed it important to involve the two ministries in formulating measures to prevent sex crimes.
Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, Commission VIII deputy chairman Ledia Hanifah Amalia slammed the Religious Affairs Ministry’s antipornography division’s “very slow action”.
“We all know pornographic content can trigger sex crimes and such content is easily accessed by those under the age of 17,” said the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) lawmaker.
Ali pointed out the need for cross-sector cooperation to implement regulations in the fight against sex crimes.
President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo signed a regulation in lieu of law (Perppu) on sexual violence against children on May 25.
The Perppu stipulates harsher sanctions and additional punishments for sexual abuse convicts, such as chemical castration for child rapists. (ebf)
