Komnas HAM Responds To Dedi Mulyadi's Proposal: Vasaktomi Should Not Be Exchanged With Social Assistance

JAKARTA - Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) Atnike Nova Sigiro said the vasectomi is part of human rights so it should not be exchanged with social assistance (bansos).

Atnike conveyed this in response to the discourse of West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi to make the vasectomi a condition for the community to receive assistance, ranging from scholarships to various social assistance from the provincial government.

"It's also privacy, yes, what vaccinations are done to the body is part of human rights. So, it should not be exchanged with social assistance or other things," Atnike said as quoted by ANTARA, Friday, May 2.

According to Atnike, punishment related to the body's authority is against in the human rights discourse. Therefore, forcing people to follow family planning (KB) as a condition for receiving assistance from the government has the potential to violate human rights.

"Just punishment is not allowed, punishment with such corporal punishment is actually part that is opposed in the discourse of human rights, moreover it is exchanged with social assistance. That is the body's authority, yes. Forcing family planning is just a violation of human rights," he said.

Previously, West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi planned to make the participation of KB a requirement for the community to receive assistance ranging from scholarships to various social assistance from the province.

Dedi on Monday (28/4), said the plan was aimed at providing government assistance, including from the province, more evenly and not focusing on one party or one family only.

All government assistance later, he said, would be integrated with KB.

"Don't let his health be guaranteed, his birth is guaranteed, but the state guarantees that family too. Those who get scholarships, those who receive assistance in giving birth, family housing, family non-cash assistance, will later receive state money in one family," he said.

Dedi emphasized that in the future the data on recipients of social assistance must be integrated with population data. More specifically, the population data must contain data on KB participants, especially male or vasectomial families.

"So, when we lower aid, we check first. Have you KB or not? If you have a KB, you can receive assistance. If you haven't had a KB, first KB. KB must be a male KB, male family planning. This is serious," he said.