House to Ratify Sexual Violence Bill into Law Today

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The House of Representatives (DPR) planned to hold a plenary meeting today, April 12, to ratify the sexual violence bill or RUU TPKS. This will bring hope as its discussion had been stalled in the parliament for years.

“Yes, we’ll have a meeting tomorrow,” said the chair of the working committee for the bill, Willy Aditya, via a text message to Tempo, Monday, April 11.

Willy explained that the House had held a Legislation Board meeting on Monday and it was agreed that a plenary meeting on the bill ratification would be held on Tuesday.

The National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) previously appreciated and supported the House's commitment to ratify the bill before the recess period starting on April 14, 2022.

“Komnas Perempuan calls for all elements to continue to oversee [the process] and ensure the ratification of the bill as committed,” said Komnas Perempuan chair Andi Yentriyani in a press release, Sunday.

In its discussion, the bill regulates, among them, crimes of sexual violence; punishment; special procedural law that presents a breakthrough in procedural law that overcomes obstacles to justice for victims, ranging from restitution, victim aid funds, reporting, investigation, prosecution, and examination in court; as well as elaboration and certainty of the fulfillment of victims' rights to treatment, protection, and recovery through an integrated service framework.

The bill will also regulate sexual violence acts that have not been categorized as criminal acts yet or have only been partially regulated, such as sexual harassment, forced contraception, forced sterilization, forced marriage, sexual torture, sexual exploitation, sexual slavery, and electronic-based sexual violence.

Read: Sexual Violence Bill to Be Passed Soon, Says House Speaker Maharani

DEWI NURITA