Mendes PDTT Urges Villages To Issue Village Regulations For The Prevention Of Sexual Violence

Minister of Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration (Mendes PDTT) Abdul Halim Iskandar. (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - Minister of Villages, Development of Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration (Mendes PDTT) Abdul Halim Iskandar appealed to villages to issue Village Regulations (Perdes) to prevent sexual violence.

"The village regulation on the prevention of sexual violence will provide space for the village to intervene against sexual crimes that occur in the house, for example. So that there are anticipatory policies, there are repressive policies for perpetrators and rehabilitative policies for victims," said Mendes PDTT in a written statement received in Jakarta, as reported by Antara, Wednesday, January 5.

He added that the existence of a village regulation on the prevention of sexual violence would also provide more optimal protection for villagers from these threats.

According to him, the problem of sexual violence experienced by women is like an iceberg phenomenon. The increase in cases of sexual violence is not only due to the number of cases, but also the types of violence committed are increasingly diverse.

"Perpetrators of sexual violence are often carried out by those closest to them, this makes the actions of the perpetrators rarely known," said Gus Halim, as he is usually called.

He conveyed that there were several cases that were hidden by the family because they were considered a family disgrace, this of course could provide opportunities for further victims.

"In order for our village to be safe and peaceful, synergistic roles of the village government, community, and family, as well as the village environment, are needed. The strategy must also be carried out in a holistic and comprehensive manner," he stressed.

Therefore, according to Gus Halim, village policies that are friendly to children and women are needed. In addition, the village government must also support gender equality.

He explained that one of the indicators of a woman-friendly village is the prevalence of cases of violence against children and women must reach zero percent.

"The village will be strong if the village women are strong. Village development will be successful if women are involved in it, and the quality of village human resources will be good if women are the main stream of village development. Therefore, the village must honor women," he said.