The Indonesian Parliament approved on Tuesday a bill against sexual violence, which had been under debate for a decade after the action of different organizations in defense of women’s rights.
these activists They have been complaining about the lack of ways for victims of sexual violence to obtain justicein a country where attacks are considered a private matter, according to the AFP agency, which specified that complaints increased during the coronavirus pandemic.
“This law is a real manifestation of the country’s efforts to prevent all forms of sexual violence and to care for, protect and rehabilitate victims, as well as do justice,” Minister for Women and Children Bintang told the legislative session. Puspayoga.
The law seeks to combat sexual crimes and establish a legal framework for victims, including in cases of marital rape.
Indonesian | Parliament approved a bill against sexual violence, which had been under debate for a decade based on the action of different organizations in defense of women’s rights
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The project was drafted a decade ago and presented in Parliament in 2016, but faced numerous obstacles.
In this framework, Islamic groups pointed out that it promotes promiscuity and conservative legislators asked to include the criminalization of extramarital sex and LGBT relationships, in the largest Muslim-majority country in the world.
The law focuses on the management of sexual violence, from prevention to recovery for the victim, and makes compensation for victims mandatory.
Physical sexual abuse, within and outside of marriage, now carries a maximum sentence of 12 years in prison and forced marriage, even when involving minors, carries a maximum sentence of new years in prison.
The National Commission on Violence Against Women reported 338,496 cases of gender aggression in 2021an increase of 50% from the previous year, as reported by AFP.
