Sexual Violence In Digital Space Increases, Synergy Of All Parties Is The Key To Prevention

Illustration of sexual violence in the digital space (doc. ANTARA)

JAKARTA - In today's digital era, cases of sexual violence not only occur in the real world, but also in the digital space.

The rapid development of technology opens new loopholes for perpetrators to take harmful actions, especially for children and adolescents who do not yet have adequate psychological protection and information. This condition requires serious attention from various parties, ranging from the government, parents, to professionals in the field of education and mental health.

Clinical psychologist at Wangaya Hospital in Denpasar City, Nena Mawar Sari, S.Psi., Psychologist, Cht, emphasized the importance of cross-sectoral cooperation to overcome sexual violence that occurs through digital media. "All parties need to synergize, from policy makers to the smallest environment, namely families," Nena said as quoted by ANTARA.

He said that the government has an important role in strengthening the regulatory system, especially in terms of monitoring the use of social media and the internet through the Electronic Information and Transactions Law (UU ITE). Strict supervision of harmful content can minimize the chances of digital-based sexual crimes.

Meanwhile, the role of parents is very crucial in building open and safe communication inside the house. According to Nena, children need to feel comfortable talking about what they are experiencing or meeting online.

"We cannot fully control what children access from the internet, from games, pornographic content, to interactions with strangers. But with warm communication, children will be more open and not make impulsive decisions," he explained.

In addition to family supervision and communication, Nena also encourages law enforcement officials to actively carry out patrols in cyberspace. According to him, this needs to be done to anticipate and take quick action against sexual violence practices that occur through digital platforms. There must be a real presence of officers in cyberspace, such as a special team that can monitor suspicious activities on social media," he said.

In terms of education, he suggested that the school curriculum insert material about personal protection and body awareness from an early age. This education should include biological, psychological, and emotional aspects of sexual violence. Cooperation is needed between teachers, parents, psychologists, and medical personnel in conveying this understanding holistically to children," added Nena.

He concluded with the hope that collective awareness of the importance of digital literacy and comprehensive sexual education could be a real step in reducing the number of sexual violence, especially in the growing digital realm.