National Commission on Violence against Women Values Indonesia Needs To Build A Human Rights Culture In This Way

Illustration/Photo: Antara

JAKARTA - Deputy Chairperson of the National Commission on Violence against Women (Komnas Perempuan), Mariana Amiruddin, said that to build a culture of human rights (HAM) in society, it is necessary to prevent torture.

"Torture which has been considered normal as part of punishment by state officials is something that must be avoided", said Mariana Amiruddin in a webinar entitled "Sexual Torture in Criminal Acts of the TPKS (Sexual Violence Act) Law" which was attended in Jakarta, Monday, June 27.

Therefore, according to him, the state needs to establish a protection mechanism. So far, his party sees the lack of adequate mechanisms to protect alleged torture and the impunity of perpetrators regarding violations of the right to be free from torture.

In addition, according to him, it is necessary to create an effective torture prevention framework to ensure that everyone has the right to his or her own integrity in Indonesia.

She gave an example of sexual torture that occurs in detention, where female prisoners are not brought together with their children to breastfeed as part of the punishment.

Then, some women prisoners do not receive medical assistance in reproductive health, such as menstruation, pregnancy, childbirth, and caregiving.

"Although not in the form of punishment, the absence of facilities for women's maternity rights is also referred to as torture", she said.

Mariana said that not only women but also men were subjected to sexual torture, including when someone was forced to confess by the authorities by harassing her, both physically and non-physically.

Another example is sexual violence in male detention that is carried out between fellow prisoners and is known and tolerated by prison officers.