JAKARTA - The Civil Society Coalition Against Sexual Violence (KOMPAKS) strongly condemns the broadcast of the soap opera Suara Hati Istri on a private television station. The soap opera is considered to perpetuate and monetize the practice of child marriage.
"I hereby strongly condemn the shameful and inappropriate act of broadcasting the soap opera Suara Hati Istri which shows the role of Zahra, played by LCF, a 15-year-old child actress, as a 17-year-old character who becomes the third wife of a 39-year-old man," said KOMPAKS representative Riska. Carolina in a statement released by Antara, Wednesday.
The soap opera Suara Hati Istri, according to KOMPAKS, has shown storylines, characters, and scenes that support and perpetuate the practice of child marriage, even sexual violence against children.
This action was added with promotions carried out through the YouTube channel of one private television station, namely the use of the title of a click angler in one of the episodes: Zahra and Pak Tirta's First Night! Hot First & Second Wife? | Mega Series SHI - Zahra Episode 3.
Riska explained that the broadcasts and promotions of this soap opera had violated the Broadcasting Code of Conduct and Broadcast Program Standards (P3SPS) which were intended for broadcasting activities for both TV and radio in Indonesia, especially Article 14 Paragraph 2 concerning Child Protection which reads "Broadcasting institutions must pay attention to the interests of children. in every aspect of broadcast production.”
He reiterated that the legal marriage age in Indonesia is 19 years for both men and women according to Marriage Law No. 16/2019 on the amendment of Law no. 1/1974. In addition, Law no. 35/2014 concerning Child Protection states that the age of children is up to 18 years.
In addition, Komnas Perempuan's 2021 Annual Records noted an extreme increase in the number of marriages up to 3 times in 2020. Based on data from the Religious Courts Agency (BADILAG), from 23,126 cases of child marriage (marriage dispensation) in 2019, it rose sharply to 64,211 cases in 2020.
According to him, child marriage has a negative impact on girls, both for the child's psychological development, as well as biological impacts that can threaten health and even cause death.
"Looking at the facts and realities experienced by victims of child marriage, it's really sad when a soap opera aired on national television channels has supported, perpetuated, and even benefited (monetized) from the issue of child marriage instead of doing things that could contribute to the elimination of gender-based violence on this one," said Riska.
For the situation of the broadcasting of the soap opera Suara Hati Istri which supports and perpetuates the practice of child marriage, KOMPAKS strongly condemns and demands the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI) to temporarily stop the program and impose severe sanctions on the soap opera production house and the television network that produces and broadcasts it.
Second, demanding the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) to investigate the show and provide protection to the child actresses involved in the production of the show, both for the impact of the ongoing production and the impact of media coverage.
Third, demanding the Film Censorship Institute (LSF) to work critically, correctly, and responsibly for the screening of the soap opera. And to private television networks and production houses to temporarily stop broadcasting, as well as withdraw promotional content that shows scenes from the soap opera from video platform channels or other platforms that are used as promotional channels.
"Instead, be socially responsible to the community by producing and broadcasting educational content related to the issue of child marriage that does not perpetuate these forms of gender-based violence," said Riska.
The Coalition of Civil Society Against Sexual Violence (KOMPAKS) is a civil society network consisting of 101 social media platforms, collectives and organizations with issues of humanity and diversity, especially sexual violence.
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