Indonesia: ‘Green’ by parliament on bill to tackle sexual violence

He cast his ballot on a long-awaited bill to tackle sexual violence, which aims to provide a legal framework for justice for victims in a country where sexual abuse is often seen as a private matter, on Tuesday (12 / 4) το parliament of Indonesia.

The majority of MPs supported the bill, overcoming the objections of some conservative groups in the most populous Muslim country in the world, after six years of consultations.

“It is definitely a step forward”

That said bill greeted activists, although some expressed their reaction to its limited scope, as the law includes only a few sexual crimes, while no specific article on rape is included. The government has announced that it will be included in other legislation.

“It’s definitely a step forward,” said Asfinawati, a lawyer at Jentera Law School who has helped victims of sexual violence. rape under the existing penal code.

Allegations of sexual harassment violence have begun to increase in Indonesia, where the prosecution of sex crimes is complicated by the absence of a specific legal framework. The victims are also worried that they will be stigmatized, which has prevented many from speaking, according to activists.

Imprisonment for up to 12 years for crimes of sexual abuse, inside and outside the marriage

The bill, according to the Athens News Agency, provides for sentences of up to 12 years in prison for sexual offenses. abuseinside and outside the marriage, 15 years for sexual exploitation, nine years for forced marriages – including child marriages – and four years in prison for disclosing sexual content without consent.

At the same time, he emphasizes that the convicts should pay compensation to the victims and the authorities should offer them psychological support.

Source: News Beast

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