JAKARTA - The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, has encouraged the Government to tighten supervision following the number of cases of sexual violence in educational institutions. He emphasized that a series of sexual violence involving teaching staff should be a priority.
"Sexual violence against children is a violation of human rights that cannot be tolerated. For this reason, the Government must tighten supervision in every implementation of educational activities," said Puan, Monday (5/6/2023).
Referring to the records of the Federation of Indonesian Teachers' Unions (FSGI), there have been 15 cases of sexual violence with the number of victims reaching 124 children and adolescents for the January-April 2023 period alone. A total of 46.67 percent occurred at the elementary school (SD) or Madrasah Ibtidaiyah (MI) level, then 13.33 percent at the junior high school level, then 7.67 percent occurred at SMK, and 33.33 percent at the Islamic Boarding School (Ponpes).
For the perpetrators, FSGI revealed that 40 percent was carried out by teachers or Ustaz, 33 percent of the leaders and caregivers of Islamic boarding schools, 20 percent of school principals and 6.67 percent were school guards where all the perpetrators were men.
Therefore, Puan reminded the Government and educational institutions to verify and evaluate educational backgrounds, work experience, and record the behavior of educators, especially in boarding schools.
"By conducting regular supervision, the Government is making efforts to prevent cases of sexual violence committed by educators," explained the first woman to serve as Chair of the DPR RI.
In addition, Puan emphasized the importance of the government providing additional training to educators regarding professional ethics, responsibility, and handling cases of sexual violence.
This effort aims to increase awareness of teaching staff regarding child protection issues, as well as provide the necessary knowledge and skills in identifying, reporting and protecting victims when handling cases of sexual violence.
"The government needs to provide training to educators from every level of education on professional ethics so that there are no more cases of sexual violence based on power relations," said Puan.
As is known, cases of sexual violence occur in religious education environments based on dormitories. Such as sexual abuse at the East Sakra Islamic boarding school, East Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), which 41 female students allegedly experienced. The perpetrator is the 2 caretakers of the boarding school.
There were also cases of sexual harassment at Islamic boarding schools in Lampung Province some time ago where the mode was that female students were lured with the blessing of having sex with the perpetrators. Then dozens of female students from a boarding school in Batang Regency, Central Java, also became victims of sexual violence perpetrated by ponpes caregivers.
In 2021, dozens of alumni of SMA Selamat Pagi Indonesia (SPI), Batu City, East Java, reported their sexual violence when they were still students. The perpetrator is the founder of the school. In this case there are also allegations of economic exploitation of SPI high school students.
Most recently, there was sexual violence at a Islamic boarding school in Labangka, Sumbawa, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB). There were 29 female students suspected of having been sexually assaulted by the head of the boarding school.
In addition, there are also unscrupulous principals (Kepsek) and Madrasah Teachers in Wonogiri who are suspected of molesting 12 students. Puan assessed that the handling of cases of violence must start from prevention.
"Training can collaborate across ministries and institutions. The Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology (Kemendikbud) and the Ministry of Religion can collaborate with the Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection (KemenPPPA) to intensify socialization related to child-friendly schools," he urged.
Puan added that training on child protection for educators can also be a means of socializing Law No. 12 of 2022 concerning the Crime of Sexual Violence (TPKS Law).
"With the socialization related to education, supervision and threats behind the TPKS Law, it is hoped that it can become a shield for cases of sexual violence in the educational environment," explained Puan.
On the other hand, the former Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture encourages the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) to immediately ratify the Draft Regulation of the Minister of Religion (RPMA) on the Prevention and Handling of Sexual Violence and Children in Islamic Boarding Schools. With this regulation, Puan hopes that the Government can oversee every dormitory-based education unit in all regions in Indonesia.
"With the hastening of the regulation, it is hoped that the Government can take preventive action against boarding schools that have a black peak so that they are not given permission to organize the education process," he said.
"In addition, the Government has full power in every data collection of places for the implementation of education and its educators," continued Puan.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education and Culture has made Permendikbudrist No. 30 of 2021 concerning the Prevention and Handling of Sexual Violence in Higher Education. Puan also encourages the same rules for school level.
"So that the rules for protecting children from the threat of sexual violence in the school environment are more comprehensive," said Bung Karno's grandson.
Puan also invited other relevant stakeholders and the entire community to increase awareness of the issue of sexual violence against children. With awareness from all levels of society, it is hoped that this will be at the forefront of preventing the issue of sexual violence, especially in the educational environment.
"We in the DPR also continue to try to provide education to the public during visits to electoral districts and when conducting surveillance in every place in an effort to provide understanding of the TPKS Law and the dangers of sexual violence for the nation's future," explained Puan.
"And I once again remind the Government to accelerate the issuance of technical regulations for the TPKS Law because it is very much needed," he concluded.
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