Indonesia passes historic legislation to combat sexual abuse

[ASEAN NOW Content Team]

 

The bill was first suggested in 2012, but conservative groups in the predominantly Muslim country objected.

Indonesia's parliament has enacted a groundbreaking measure to combat sexual abuse, six years after negotiations began. The bill aims to provide a legal framework for victims to seek justice.

At a plenary session in parliament, a majority of parliamentarians supported the bill, overcoming resistance from some conservative factions in the world's largest Muslim-majority country.

 

"We hope that the adoption of this law would bring an end to incidences of sexual violence," House Speaker Puan Maharani stated.

Activists have largely praised the measure, however some have criticised its narrow reach, which includes only a few sex crimes and leaves out a specific clause on rape, which the government has promised will be included in future legislation.

"This is unquestionably a step forward," said Asfinawati, a legal specialist at Jentera School of Law who has aided sexual abuse victims, while emphasising that the penal code's present definitions of rape should be clarified.

 

Sexual abuse accusations have been on the rise in Indonesia, where the lack of a dedicated legal framework has made prosecuting sex crimes difficult, and victims' fears of being shamed during questioning have stopped many from speaking out, according to advocates.

The law's final form includes prison penalties of up to 12 years for crimes of physical sexual assault, both inside and outside of marriage, 15 years for sexual exploitation, nine years for forced marriage, including child marriage, and four years for disseminating non-consensual sexual content.

 

It said that convicted abusers must pay reparations and that authorities must offer victims with counselling.

Earlier versions of the bill would have included abortion as well as a stricter definition of what constitutes rape.

After the horrifying gang rape and murder of a 13-year-old schoolgirl by more than a dozen men, the National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) and civil society groups recommended legislation in 2012, and a draught was brought to the house four years later.