The TPKS Bill Is Ready To Be Forwarded To Level II Discussions, Next Week Bringing It To The Plenary

Minister of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection (PPPA) Bintang Puspayoga (Photo via Ministry)

JAKARTA - The Legislative Body of the DPR RI and the Government have completed the Discussion on the Draft Law (RUU) on the Crime of Sexual Violence at the level I discussion at the Parliament Complex, Wednesday, April 6.

The Minister of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection (PPPA), Bintang Puspayoga, said the TPKS Bill was ready to be forwarded to level II discussions, for decision making in the DPR RI Plenary Meeting scheduled for next week. He revealed, for approximately seven days in a marathon all factions in the Legislative Body have given their opinion.

"We, on behalf of the Government, express our deepest gratitude to the Working Committee on the TPKS Bill and the Legislative Body of the DPR RI who have carried out their duties very well, quickly and in a very conducive atmosphere," said Bintang in a written statement, Thursday, April 7.

"This discussion journey has provided many lessons for all of us to better understand how the various thoughts and considerations have all contributed very positively to the refinement of this TPKS Bill," he added.

Bintang is grateful that in the end the Bill on the Crime of Sexual Violence (RUU TPKS) can be mutually agreed upon and will proceed to the DPR RI Plenary Meeting to be passed into law. He said all the hard work, time, and energy that had been devoted by the Working Committee on the TPKS Bill and the Legislation Body of the DPR RI with all the hope and anticipation and patience of the victims and their companions.

"Basically and in fact this law belongs to us together, which was compiled jointly by the Indonesian Parliament, the Government and Civil Society," said Bintang. recover victims, carry out law enforcement, rehabilitate perpetrators, create an environment without sexual violence, and ensure non-recurrence of sexual violence," he continued.

Bintang also invited all parties to maintain the shared commitment, which had grown since the beginning of the drafting of the TPKS Bill.

"So that the bill that will be passed becomes a law that can be implemented comprehensively and integratively," concluded Bintang.

Previously, the Legislative Assembly of the Republic of Indonesia together with the government agreed to make a decision on the results of the discussion of the Draft Law on Sexual Violence (RUU TPKS) at level I.

This decision indicates that the TPKS Bill will be brought to the plenary session of the DPR RI for ratification. The level I agreement was taken during a plenary meeting at the parliament complex, Senayan, Jakarta, Wednesday, April 6, noon.

The meeting was physically attended by all factions, Deputy Minister of Law and Human Rights (Wamenkumham) Edward Omar Sharif Hiariej or Eddy, and Minister of PPPA Bintang Puspayoga. The meeting was chaired by the Chairman of the Legislative Council of the Republic of Indonesia Supratman Andi Agtas.

All factions in the DPR gave their views and attitudes regarding the TPKS Bill. The majority of factions in the DPR agreed that the TPKS Bill was brought to the plenary session of the DPR.

"Can we approve the Draft Law on the Crime of Sexual Violence to be continued in the plenary session for level II discussions?" asked Supratman Andi Agtas as chairman of the trial.

"Agreed," replied the meeting participants.

However, a different attitude was shown by the PKS faction of the DPR RI, which rejected the TPKS bill being brought to the plenary stage of the DPR RI. The PKS faction requested that the TPKS Bill be ratified after the RKUHP was ratified or both were discussed simultaneously.

"We, the Prosperous Justice Party faction, reject the Bill on the Crime of Sexual Violence to be passed into law and proceed to the next stage according to the legislation before the ratification of the RKUHP," said PKS DPP chairman Al Muzzammil Yusuf while giving his views.

"And/or the discussion of the TPKS Bill is carried out together with the discussion of the RKUHP by synchronizing all moral crimes which include all forms of sexual violence, adultery, and sexual deviation," he added.