TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The National Commission for Child Protection (Komnas PA) released data based on an observation from January to June this year. Komnas PA chairman Arist Merdeka Sirait said that up until mid-2013, most cases against children involved violence, mostly sexual abuse.
"There were 1,032 cases (of sexual abuse against children) in the last six months," said Arist on Thursday.
Komnas PA said there 294 cases of physical abuse against children, 203 cases of psychological abuse, and 535 cases of sexual abuse.
Based on the environment, most cases of sexual abuse occurred in a social environment, 385 cases, followed by the family, 193 cases, and finally in the school environment, 121 cases.
The commission also says 280 cases of the sexual attacks were committed in the form of rape, followed by 182 molestation cases, 52 cases of sodomy and 21 cases of incest. The perpetrators managed to get to these children using various methods including 139 cases through gentle persuasion and trickery, 131 cases through false promises, 45 cases by forceful capture, 15 cases by using sedatives, and 14 cases of children kidnapped first before being abused.
Arist called on the public to join the war against abuse and violence against women and children. He also asked the national police to improve their services and provide special care for victims of sexual abuse. The commission also pushed lawmakers to issue heavier sanctions for sexual offenders against women and children.
"At least 20 years in prison or a maximum or a life sentence," Arist asserted.
SUNDARI