KPI Must Know It's Not Only MS Who Becomes 'Victims', Don't Forget Wife, Mother To Children

Illustration: BBC

JAKARTA - The National Commission on Violence against Women (Komnas Perempuan) asked the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI) to cooperate with other institutions in responding to cases of sexual harassment of its employees, namely MS as a victim.

"Komnas Perempuan encourages KPI to build cross-institutional cooperation to strengthen efforts to deal with cases in an accountable manner and ensure non-recurrence through the development of mechanisms for preventing and handling violence in the workplace," said Komnas Perempuan member Dewi Santi in her statement, Sunday, September 3.

This was revealed by Dewi after MS filed a virtual complaint against the sexual violence case she experienced to Komnas Perempuan a few days ago.

Dewi considers that it is necessary to encourage KPI to cooperate with other institutions because this case also has a negative impact on the victim's family members, namely MS's wife and mother.

In the case of MS, Dewi considers that the experience of sexual violence has resulted in continued stress, depression, and sadness, thus affecting her physical health, such as frequent stomachaches and insomnia.

Then, this impact also affects the closest family members and affects the relationship between husband and wife or father to child, in addition to their capacity to work. At the same time, MS also faces denial of sexual assault, seemingly endless legal processes, and limited support for recovery.

"In the case of Mr. MS, it is clear that the recovery of the victim also needs to be extended to his family members, who were indirectly affected by the sexual violence incident and at the same time played an important role as a supporter of the victim's recovery," said Dewi.

Dewi said that the recovery process for victims is not a separate process from other services, but needs to be carried out from the beginning of the victim reporting the case until the victim is empowered.

"As long as the victim is still considered to have not recovered, recovery services must continue. Learning from this case also shows the need for victims of sexual violence for a legal umbrella that guarantees and protects victims of sexual violence. So it is important to discuss and ratify the Bill on the Crime of Sexual Violence," he concluded. .