Day: April 12, 2022

Passage of the Sexual Crimes Prevention Bill into law on Tuesday reflected the spirit and fight of Indonesian women, especially sexual violence victims, according to House and RUU TPKS work committee member Christina Aryani.

“This is the gift for the women’s struggles throughout Indonesia, especially the victims of sexual violence. With this bill passed, the step of fighting for the aspirations of Indonesian women and society became brighter,” Aryani stated here on Tuesday.

At the plenary meeting session in Jakarta on Tuesday, the House of Representatives approved the Sexual Crimes Prevention Bill, or RUU TPKS, to be passed into law.

According to Aryani, the bill has been through lengthy and dynamic discussions until it finally entered the approval stage, thereby being commendable of the Indonesian women’s struggle.

She explained that the stages of discussing the bill had gone well, wherein public participation had gone optimally, and the society had kept observing until the end.

The RUU TPKS had been through a tough patch since 2016, but owing to the persistence and consistency of the people, the House, and the government, discussions on the bill could be moved forward, Aryani highlighted.

“This is a reward for the persistence of that fight. Later, on April 21, we will celebrate Kartini Day (Women’s Emancipation Day), and this RUU TPKS will be the most beautiful gift for all Indonesian women,” she remarked.

According to Aryani, the dynamics of the RUU TPKS discussions were also interesting and she was pleased that the process had run smoothly and constructively, as the work committee had striven hard until the bill was decided to be approved into law.

“We appreciate each of the steps, and of course, the discussion of the RUU TPKS is a milestone of (legal) protection, especially for the sexual violence victims, who have been waiting for legal protection,” she remarked.

Source: Antara News

Yogyakarta Mayor Haryadi Suyuti has assured that the city is safe from street crimes, or ‘klitih,’ which were reported by various mass media in early April 2022, saying the issue has now been addressed.

“Yogyakarta remains safe. There is no need to worry about coming to visit Yogyakarta,” Suyuti said after meeting with personnel from the police and national defense forces as well as community leaders in Yogyakarta on Tuesday.

He disclosed that the street crime case, which took place in early April 2022 and claimed one life, had been handled by the police. Five of the perpetrators were arrested and are currently undergoing legal proceedings.

He said he did not believe in terms such as ‘random targets’ because, for every crime, there must be a cause for the actions taken by the perpetrators.

“There is no such thing as a random (target). There may be mistargeting. But what is certain is that there are always reasons and causes for these street crimes. Usually caused by (clashes) between groups,” he explained.

Thus, street crimes are categorized as inter-group brawls, he said.

Tuesday’s meeting resulted in an agreement by various stakeholders on conducting patrols. Among the entities that will conduct the security measure are Yogyakarta public order officers, national defense force, police, youth organizations, and the general public.

Suyuti urged the public to immediately contact law enforcement if they notice a risk of street crime, and advised against vigilante acts. “Still have to remember that our country is a state of law,” he said.

The Yogyakarta city government has a Family Resilience Regulation, which stipulates the role of the family in educating children.

“One of them is making sure the child is at home before 10 p.m. (local time),” Yogyakarta Deputy Mayor Heroe Poerwadi said.

Meanwhile, director of public guidance at the Yogyakarta Police Department, Ruminio Ardano, called for collaborative efforts for eliminating street crimes.

“Guidance within the family, in the neighborhood, and in schools is very important because it is an area that must be monitored to (limit the chances of) children committing crimes,” he said.

Source: Antara News

Resounding gratitude was expressed to House Speaker Puan Maharani, upon ratification of the Draft Bill on Sexual Violence Crimes by the House of Representatives, thereby officiating it as a law.

“Thank you, Mrs. Puan, thank you, Mr. Deputy Minister. Thank you Mrs. Puan. Stop sexual violence,” the people, who were present, stated while echoing their gratitude to the House of Representatives and the government at the 19th Plenary Meeting of the House of Representatives for the Session IV 2021- 2022 year at the Parliament Building, Senayan, here on Tuesday.

They extended their gratitude to Deputy Minister of Law and Human Rights Edward Omar Sharif Hiariej and all factions of the House of Representatives that had supported the bill’s ratification.

“Is the Sexual Violence Crime Bill approved (for ratification) to be passed as a law?” Maharani asked the participants that drew a loud applause when Maharani knocked the gavel, as quoted in a press release.

Not only the House of Representatives and government, but the general public was also present during the meeting and tirelessly pushed for the bill’s ratification.

“On this occasion, the Indonesian Women’s Organization was present and also the Civil Society Network and the Forum for Service Providers for Sexual Violence Victims,” Maharani stated while mentioning the list of representatives from the general public.

Since the onset, Maharani has encouraged transparency and involvement of the public in the discussion of the Sexual Violence Crime Bill.

“All of them were present to support the decision (for the ratification) of the Sexual Violence Crime Bill. The ratification of the Sexual Violence Crime Bill as a law is a gift for all Indonesian women ahead of the commemoration of Kartini Day soon,” she stated.

The ratification of the Sexual Violence Crime Bill was a gift for all citizens as well as a mark of progress of the nation.

“This is because the Sexual Violence Crime Law is the result of our collaborative work as well as our collective commitment to emphasize (the fact) that in Indonesia, there is no place for sexual violence,” she stressed.

She affirmed that this ratification was a milestone for one of the efforts made by the people. The hard work of every citizen proves that good intentions will bear sound results.

Source: Antara News

The Law and Human Rights Ministry is building a correctional facility in Lhokseumawe city, Aceh, which will be able to accommodate up to 800 prisoners.

Head of the Aceh Regional Office of the Law and Human Rights Ministry, Meurah Budiman, said that the construction of the correctional facility is aimed at alleviating the burden on prisons in Aceh, which are currently overcrowded.

“The construction of the new building for the Class IIA Lhokseumawe correctional facility will have the capacity to house 800 prisoners. This new building is being built because the current condition (in prisons) exceeds the capacity, capped at 325 percent,” he added.

Budiman said that the Law and Human Rights Ministry is prioritizing the construction of the correctional facility to provide the best service to inmates as well as address the overcrowding issue, which is occurring in almost all prisons and detention centers.

The new correctional facility will be built in two stages. In 2022, 40 percent of the construction will be completed, and the remaining 60 percent will be resumed in 2023. The facility is located in a former prison that was built in 1996, which was activated due to the Aceh conflict, he informed.

“This new two-story prison is targeted for completion by the end of 2023, and will be able to be utilized in 2024. If possible, before the simultaneous regional elections, it can be used,” he informed.

He said he expected the construction process to run smoothly and finish on time. The construction of the new building is not only the responsibility of the Law and Human Rights Ministry, but also everyone else’s.

“We will compel the public to pursue the construction process. Later, the Lhokseumawe prison building will be turned into a state detention house,” he added.

Source: Antara News