Bogor Urged to Review Regulation on Sexual Deviation

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The International NGO Forum on Indonesia Development or INFID asked the Bogor City Government to review its regional regulation or Perda No. 10 of 2021 concerning the prevention and mitigation of sexual deviation or P4S as it is considered violating human rights and is not in accordance with science.

“We assess that this regional regulation is not in line with the objectives stated in the document because articles on homosexuals, lesbians, and bisexuals (LGBT) in this regulation are not in line with existing knowledge. This has the potential to violate the human rights of sexual and gender minority groups,” said Infid’s program officer of human rights and democracy, Alyaa Nabiilah, in a press statement received by Tempo, Wednesday, April 13.

She explained that 15 sexual deviant behaviors including homosexual, lesbian, and bisexual in Chapter III Article 6 were not in accordance with the Indonesian Government guidelines. “In point F66 of the Guidelines for the Classification and Diagnosis of Mental Disorders (PPDGJ) III of the Health Ministry, it is stated that sexual orientation should not be considered a disorder,” said Alyaa.

According to her, transgender is not included in the mental disorders in the 11th revision of the Classification of Diseases. Besides, they are not people with mental health issues, let alone actors of sexual deviation as noted in the 5th revision of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders which is the basis for mental health diagnoses in Indonesia.

With this regional regulation that was made without an adequate knowledge base, Infid argued, the city administration has the potential to violate human rights by exacerbating discrimination against sexual and gender minority groups. This is not in accordance with Article 8 of Law No. 39 of 1999 on human rights.

Thus, Infid suggested Bogor review its intention to host the 2022 Human Rights Festival. The city administration was also asked to revise the regional regulation in accordance with the rules of knowledge and ensure that there is no discrimination in the policy.

“Hold an open and inclusive discussion room. Komnas HAM can also hold a discussion room and ensure that the process of revising the regional regulation is carried out inclusively,” said Alyaa.

Read: Non-Physical Sexual Harassment Punishable Under Sexual Violence Bill

M.A MURTADHO