Category: Human Rights

Chairperson of the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) Ai Maryati Solihah has said that the commission remains committed to providing optimal services to people seeking to register complaints.

“The KPAI will provide optimal services to the community in the form of receiving complaints, be it in the form of mediation, cooperation, and others. That is our big commitment so that the benefits of the KPAI can be felt immediately,” she added here on Thursday.

Under her leadership, the KPAI will also strengthen supervision in the context of implementation, prevention, treatment, recovery, and rehabilitation of children.

The KPAI carries out direct and indirect supervision, Solihah said.

“In direct (supervision), of course, we see the urgency of supervision in every report, in every case, in every output or implemented protection system, whether there are unfinished problems or not. That is where we move,” she explained.

In addition, the commission is also trying to innovate online evaluation, monitoring, and reporting systems.

KPAI will measure the achievements of and obstacles faced by ministries, agencies, and local governments in carrying out their child protection duties and functions, she said.

The KPAI chairperson expressed the hope that child protection institutions will cooperate better to prevent violence against children.

“It is important for us all to work together to carry out the big mandate of the Indonesian Child Protection Commission,” she highlighted.

Solihah has been selected as chairperson of the KPAI and Jasra Putra as its deputy chairperson for the 2022–2027 period. KPAI has seven more members.

The two leaders and seven members of KPAI were approved based on Presidential Decree Number 127/P of 2022 concerning the dismissal of members of the Indonesian Child Protection Commission for the 2017–2022 period and the appointment of members of the Indonesian Child Protection Commission for the 2022–2027 period.

Source: Antara News

The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has expressed support for efforts made by the National Defense Forces (TNI) commander and National Police (Polri) chief to resolve conflicts in Maybrat district, West Papua.

“Komnas HAM supports the commitment of the TNI commander (Admiral Yudo Margono) and the police chief (General Listyo Sigit Prabowo) in efforts to resolve conflicts in Papua region,” Komnas HAM chairperson Atnike Nova Sigiro said here on Thursday.

Komnas HAM also supports the ongoing coordination that has involved all related parties in carrying out the comprehensive handling of refugees affected by conflict and paying attention to vulnerable groups, such as children, the elderly, women, and persons with disabilities.

Both the central and local governments as well as the TNI and Polri must ensure the voluntary return of refugees to their regions by ensuring their security and the fulfillment of their fundamental rights, Sigiro said.

“Komnas HAM has asked all parties to stop all forms of violence so that efforts to repatriate refugees to their regions can run smoothly,” she added.

The human rights body also asked TNI and Polri to take the necessary steps to handle the security situation in Maybrat district while still prioritizing human rights norms and principles.

Komnas HAM urged armed groups and government officials not to commit violence against civilians and encourage peaceful dialogue to stop violence.

Parties who commit acts of violence against civilians must be dealt with firmly based on the law, and Komnas HAM will continue to monitor and encourage efforts to fulfill the rights of refugees, Sigiro said.

According to the Indonesian Army’s (TNI AD’s) website, one of the activities carried out by the infantry battalion task force RK 136/TS at Kumerkek Post has been cleaning public facilities such as schools and houses of residents at Sabah village, East Aifat, Maybrat district, West Papua, on January 9, 2023.

Some of the public buildings and houses there were abandoned by residents after the conflict last year.

Source: Antara News

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has asked officials to follow up on the report and recommendations of the team for the non-judicial settlement of past serious human rights violations (PPHAM).

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs and chair of the PPHAM team steering committee, Mahfud MD, conveyed the information after submitting the team’s report and recommendations to the President at the Merdeka Palace here on Wednesday.

“In the near future, the President will invite relevant ministers, including the Minister of Social Affairs, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR), Minister of Finance, commander of the Indonesian Armed Forces, chief of Police, Minister of Education, and others,” Mahfud informed media crew after the meeting.

“They will be invited to be given assignments based on this recommendation,” he added.

Mahfud said that among the things that need to be followed up are physical recommendations based on the findings of the PPHAM team in several places, though he did not elaborate on them.

“Then there are people who still experience discrimination in everyday life,” he added.

Mahfud appealed to the public to not label the work of the PPHAM team as an attempt to dwarf Muslims or revive communism.

“Precisely this is recommended. At least 4 of them have an Islamic basis,” he said.

For instance, 3 of the 12 incidents that the Indonesian government has recognized as serious human rights violations occurred in Aceh, he said. Therefore, it is unreasonable to say that the work of the PPHAM team is aimed at discrediting Muslims, he added.

“Then related to (the murder of) the witchcraft (shamans), 142 clerics became victims and their families are still suffering so we have to take action,” he said.

Regarding the PPHAM team’s review of the 1965–1966 incident, which is often used to accuse the authorities of attempts to revive communism, Mahfud emphasized that the victims whose rights were rehabilitated were not only former PKI members, but also Muslims and soldiers.

“There are (former) PKI members, Muslims, there are also soldiers. All of that will be given compensation and rehabilitation. Meanwhile, the juridical issue is (still) being processed in accordance with the provisions of the law,” he said.l

After receiving the PPHAM team’s report, President Widodo said that the Indonesian government acknowledges that there have been serious human rights violations in 12 incidents in the past and emphasized his deep regret over the incidents.

“With a clear mind and a sincere heart, I, as the Head of State of the Republic of Indonesia, acknowledge that serious human rights violations did occur in various events,” he said.

The 12 incidents include the 1965–1966 incident, the 1982–1985 mysterious shooting incident, the Talangsari incident in Lampung in 1989, the Rumoh Geudong and Pos Sattis incidents in Aceh in 1989, the 1997–1998 forced disappearances incident, and the May 1998 riot incident.

Other incidents include the Trisakti and Semanggi I-II incidents in 1998–1999, the murder of witchcraft shamans in 1998–1999, the 1999 Aceh KKA Simpang incident, the 2001–2002 Wasior Papua incident, the 2003 Wamena Papua incident, and the 2003 Aceh Jambo Keupok incident.

The President expressed his deep sympathy and empathy for the victims of the 12 incidents and their families.

He emphasized that the government is trying to restore victims’ rights in a fair and wise manner without negating judicial settlement and is making earnest efforts so that serious human rights violations do not recur in Indonesia.

Source: Antara News

A tutor accused of sexually violating 21 children in Batang District, Central Java, must be given severe punishment in accordance with the law, the Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Ministry has said.

“The Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Ministry expects that this case can really be resolved by imposing strict punishments. We will consistently monitor the process of assistance for and the recovery of victims,” the deputy for special protection of children at the ministry, Nahar, said in a statement received here on Wednesday.

The accused worked as a tambourine tutor and informal recitation teacher, he informed.

The sexual violence allegedly began in 2019 and the victims were children whom the accused knew really well. The average age of the victims was 5–12 years.

So far, at least 21 children have reported the case to Batang Police. The accused has been named a suspect and detained by the authorities.

The ministry is coordinating with the relevant stakeholders who work to address women’s and children’s issues to provide psychological assistance to the victims so that they can recover from their trauma.

“The psychological recovery of the victims needs to be done so that they don’t cause trauma in the future. We want to prevent the risk of victims becoming perpetrators in adulthood or being mentally disturbed due to trauma. The Central Java Integrated Service for Women and Children’s Protection (SPT PPA) has stated that they are ready to offer trauma healing to victims,” he said.

The accused allegedly lured the victims by giving them money and letting them borrow his cell phone.

“What concerns us is that among the 21 child victims, some of the victims were abused more than once,” said Nahar.

Currently, the case is being investigated by the police, he informed.

Source: Antara News

The Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection (PPPA) affirmed that efforts to restore and fulfill the rights of a child victim of sexual violence in Lahat District, South Sumatra, should be prioritized.

“We deeply regret the act of sexual violence by three perpetrators against a 17-year-old victim. Efforts to restore and fulfill victims’ rights must be prioritized,” the ministry’s Deputy for Special Protection for Children, Nahar, noted in a statement received here, Wednesday.

Nahar lauded the hard work of all parties, including the Lahat PPPA Service and the Lahat Regional Integrated Service Unit (UPTD), for having provided assistance to the victims.

The ministry also urges law enforcement officials to thoroughly investigate this case, including immediately arresting an adult perpetrator, who is still at large, and imposing severe criminal penalties in accordance with the law.

“The Lahat Police are currently processing the case. Two child perpetrators have been sentenced to 10 months in prison, while one adult perpetrator is still on the run and being pursued by the Police. The entire legal process is the authority of law enforcement officials, but we must consider justice for the victim,” he stated.

In this case, Nahar explained that the judicial process for child perpetrators was regulated in Law Number 11 of 2012 concerning the Juvenile Criminal Justice System (SPPA).

Meanwhile, the adult offender can be charged under Article 81 of Law Number 17 of 2016, with a minimum sentence of five years and a maximum of 15 years in prison.

“We encourage the authorities to pursue the adult offender and give the most severe punishment, including the addition of a third of the sentence and an additional sentence in the form of announcing the identity because it was carried out by more than one perpetrator, which indicated that the adult perpetrator invited the child perpetrator to commit a crime,” Nahar stated.

The ministry also urged investigators to develop this case for other alleged perpetrators, both of whom are still on the run and those who have not been named as suspects.

Source: Antara News

The Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Ministry has commended the Supreme Court’s decision to reject the appeal of death row convict Herry Wirawan, saying such sanctions would ensure justice for the victims.

“On behalf of the Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Ministry, we express our sincere gratitude to everyone who has followed up on the HW (Herry Wirawan) case,” Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Minister Bintang Puspayoga said in Bandung city on Monday.

Minister Puspayoga informed that a coordination meeting on the Supreme Court decision was hosted on Monday, and it was facilitated by West Java chief prosecutor Asep N. Mulyana.

“The Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Ministry refers to the Child Protection Act and Law Number 12 of 2022 about Sexual Violence Crime, receiving a mandate from the state to conduct periodic cross-sectoral coordination for prevention,” she said.

She further said she expects Wirawan’s case to serve as an example of good collaboration while handling other cases, beginning from the process of investigation, assistance, and detention, to court decision.

She also expressed her utmost gratitude to the chief prosecutor for taking the time to pursue the justice that the victims longed for.

West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil said that the rejection of the appeal could provide a sense of justice and set an example so that the state does not hesitate to give the maximum punishment to perpetrators of crimes against women and children.

“It is expected that this case will set a precedent so that the state will not hesitate to give maximum punishment to perpetrators of crimes against children who should (lead) this nation’s future with good and (best) psyche,” he added.

The West Java provincial government has demonstrated its readiness to follow up on the case by confiscating and auctioning the perpetrator’s assets to cover the living expenses of the victims and the babies born to the victims, he said.

“We (the provincial government) are ready to report the transfer of assets which will be auctioned and the results will go into the state treasury at the West Java government. The state money will be fully used for the benefit of the victims whom we must handle on physical, psychological, and everyday aspects,” he highlighted.

Kamil emphasized that the West Java government and other relevant institutions will prepare child protection-children born to the defendant and this will be a top priority.

Source: Antara News

Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Bintang Puspayoga called on Islamic boarding schools in Malang District, East Java, to increase supervision to prevent bullying among students.

“We hope the school can conduct supervision to prevent bullying since it has many negative effects on children. Let us take efforts to prevent violence in the educational environment, especially in the boarding school environment,” she noted in Jakarta, Thursday.

The minister expressed concern over the bullying of a 13-year-old student by a classmate at the Islamic boarding school.

The minister stated that assistance and protection of victims as well as a fair legal process were being prioritized in handling this case.

Moreover, Puspayoga deemed it crucial to prevent violence in the boarding school environment without further ado.

“This incident is very concerning. The victim was beaten by a classmate that resulted in injuries, bruises, and a broken nose. This kind of violence should not have happened, especially in a boarding school environment, where children do not only come to school to study but also live in the school dormitories,” she remarked.

The victim DF, 13, experienced violence in the hands of KR, 13, on November, 26, 2022. Due to this incident, the victim suffered a head injury, bruises on the back of the waist, and a broken nose.

The victim’s mother, who was visiting the victim, was taken aback to find her child injured.

The mother immediately called the victim’s father and took the victim to Saiful Anwar Hospital in Malang for a post-mortem examination and medical treatment.

“Initial psychological assistance was provided by the Regional Technical Unit for the Protection of Women and Children (UPTD PPA) in Malang District along with psychologists on November, 28, 2022. The psychological assistance aimed at assessing the condition of the trauma experienced as well as providing psychological support to victims and the family regarding the incident,” she explained.

Puspayoga stated that the victim’s medical and psychological developments would continue to be monitored, as the victim was traumatized by the incident.

In addition to psychological assistance, the UPTD PPA has provided mediation assistance at the Malang Police on January 2, 2023. Based on results of the mediation, the victim’s parents were keen to continue the legal process.

 

Source: Antara News

Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Minister Bintang Puspayoga has urged law enforcement authorities to take firm action against two youths accused of abusing a 14-year-old girl in Klapanunggal, Bogor district, West Java.

“Strict action and severe punishment are needed against the perpetrators to impose a deterrent effect so that similar incidents do not take place again,” she said here on Thursday.

She commended Bogor Police Force for arresting the two youths, both aged 19 years.

“The perpetrators, a total of two people, had committed sexual violence as well as physical violence to the point that the victim was found in a weak and helpless condition by others,” she said.

The victim reportedly got acquainted with the two youths on social media, who lured her with a job offer of Rp300 thousand per day. Afterward, the victim was picked up and immediately taken to the place where she was raped and abused. The perpetrators allegedly took away the victim’s cell phone.

People found the victim lying helplessly in a paddy field.

“The incident which befell the victim can leave deep trauma for the victim. Therefore, it is important to give assistance to the victim,” the minister said.

She said her ministry’s Bogor Women and Children Protection Unit has conducted outreach to the victim and assisted her in the process of examination and treatment at the hospital, as well as during proceedings with the relevant authorities handling the case.

In addition, the victim has been provided psychological and psychiatric services. Currently, she is with her family and recovering safely.

The unit will periodically visit the victim’s home to monitor her condition.

 

Source: Antara News