Deputy Chairperson Of The MPR Lestari Moerdijat Highlights Sexual Violence In A Number Of Educational Places

Deputy Chairperson of the MPR, Lestari Moerdijat. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Deputy Chairperson of the MPR, Lestari Moerdijat, highlighted the rampant cases of sexual violence that occurred in educational institutions in Indonesia so that the Bill on the Crime of Sexual Violence (RUU TPKS) must be accelerated to become a law responding to these incidents.

"Deep concern for the various acts of sexual violence that occurred in a number of educational institutions, both public and with religious backgrounds. Stakeholders must act immediately so that this case of human rights violations ends soon," she said, in a written statement, quoted from Antara, Sunday 12 December.

She stated that this was related to a number of alleged cases of sexual harassment against students at a number of educational institutions in Bandung and Tasikmalaya, West Java, and Cilacap, Central Java.

She said that what was very concerning was that a number of these cases left dozens of child victims who were physically and psychologically affected. Apart from the children, the victims are their nuclear family and extended family.

According to her, sexual violence against children is a crime that violates human rights and has an impact on destroying the future of the nation's next generation.

"Sexual violence against children is clearly against our constitution which mandates that every citizen gets full protection in obtaining their basic rights as human beings," she said.

Therefore, she asked the stakeholders to immediately accelerate the process of the issuance of the Law on the Crime of Sexual Violence, as an instrument to prevent the recurrence of acts of sexual violence that have threatened the future of the young generation in the country.

She stated that protecting every citizen from all forms of threats of violence, including threats of sexual violence, is a constitutional mandate that must be prioritized to be realized immediately.

According to her, all authorities in the executive, legislative and judicial branches have an obligation to realize the mandate of the 1945 Constitution.