Director General Of Human Rights Highlights Case Of Harassment Of Miss Universe Indonesia's Naked Photos, Affirms Criminal Threats For Perpetrators

JAKARTA - Director General of Human Rights of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights (Dirjen HAM Kemenkumham) Dhana Putra said the alleged sexual harassment at the Miss Universe Indonesia 2023 beauty pageant was a bad record for women's competition to actualize themselves.

"If proven true, we see this as a bad record in the Miss Universe pageant because sexual harassment is clearly not in line with the purpose of holding the Miss Universe event," said Dhana as quoted by ANTARA, Saturday, August 12.

According to him, sexual harassment cannot be tolerated under any pretext in Indonesia. Indonesia, he added, has ratified the International Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) Convention, and ratified Law Number 12 of 2022 concerning the Crime of Sexual Violence (TPKS Law).

"Which is proof of the country's seriousness in providing protection and respect for human rights, especially regarding the issue of sexual violence," he said.

He reminded perpetrators of sexual harassment to receive serious threats as regulated, for example in Article 12 or Article 13 of the TPKS Law. "Hopefully, with such a serious threat it can prevent sexual harassment," he said.

Dhana said that his party together with the Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection (Ministry of PPPA) and other relevant ministries/agencies are currently working on one of the seven regulations implementing the TPKS Law, namely the Draft Government Regulation (RPP) on the Prevention of Criminal Acts of Sexual Violence and Handling, Protection, and Recovery of Victims of Sexual Violence.

"We need to reiterate that the sexual harassment that befell a number of our sisters and finalists Miss Universe Indonesia is openly contrary to the government's efforts to encourage respect and protection of human rights for women," he said.

For this reason, the Ministry of Law and Human Rights appreciates the quick steps taken by the police in responding to reports submitted by the alleged victims of sexual harassment at the beauty pageant.

"The police's quick response to this report shows that the understanding of law enforcement officials on the issue of sexual harassment has been getting better," he said.

In addition, Dhana invited the organizers of Miss Universe Indonesia to evaluate their business activities so that they could take preventive measures so that similar incidents do not happen again in the future.

Because if sexual harassment is allowed, it is feared that it will have a negative impact, especially on the creative economy and tourism industry in the country.

"Don't let the alleged sexual harassment at the Miss Universe Indonesia event give the impression that our creative economy and tourism industry is not human rights friendly, especially women," he said.