SEXUAL ASSAULTS AND RAPE CASES DOMINATE CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN IN 2012 by Fardah

     Jakarta, Jan 16, 2013 (ANTARA) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono called for the protection of children from any form of abuse - both physical and mental.

         "Over the past few years, the government has been working hard on two issues with regard to children - their protection and empowerment," the head of state said at a function to mark the National Child Day in August 2012.

         To demonstrate the nation's commitment to children's welfare at the global level, the Indonesian government submitted a ratification of two optional protocols on the protection of children to the United Nations in September 2012.

         However, the Indonesian Commission for Child Protection (KPAI) recently revealed shocking data on "horrors" facing Indonesian children.

         "In 2012, crimes against children were dominated by rape cases and sexual assaults, constituting 30 percent of the total number of crimes in the country, said KPAI's Chairperson, Maria Ulfah Anshor, in Jakarta on January 9, 2012.  
    According to the commission, last year was termed "emergency situation of sexual crimes against children" in Indonesia.

         In 2012, the National Commission for Child Protection received reports of 2,637 cases of violence against children - 62 percent of them or 1,634 cases were sexual assaults and abuses, according to a media report. Last year, there was a ten percent increase in the number of sexual abuses as compared to 2011.

         To date, many rape cases have not been reported to the police because the children's families are ashamed of the incident.

         Children should be aware of rape and sexual abuses so that they can protect themselves, she added. If anyone hears of a child-assault case, he/she should inform the police immediately, she said.

        "Rape cases and sexual abuses are serious crimes. Perpetrators of such crimes can be sentenced to a minimum of three years in prison or a maximum of 15 years in prison," she said.

         According to the commission, cases of violence on children have increased in the past few years in the country. In several regions, there has been a 30 percent increase in the number of crimes against children.

         In 2011, crimes against children were dominated by violence against children being held in child detention centres, according to KPAI.

         Recently, RI, a 11-year old girl who was a fifth grader at the SDN 22 elementary school in Pulo Gebang, East Jakarta, died in Persahabatan Hospital in Rawamangun on January 6, 2012. She had suffered severe vaginal and rectal injuries due to repeated sexual assaults.

         The Indonesian Commission for Child Protection has urged the police to arrest the perpetrator immediately.

          "The police should arrest him immediately," said KPAI's deputy chairperson, Apong Herlina.

          She said KPAI is working closely with the East Jakarta police on the case.

          Seto Mulyadi, chairman of KPAI's Advisory Board, has also urged the police to look into the death of RI. He said he will not rest until the cause of RI's death is known.

         "We urge the police to arrest the perpetrator(s) immediately," said Seto.

         Children are victims of such crimes because perpetrators are not given severe punishments, he said, adding that the police and judges should give severe punishments to criminals who assault children.

          The Jakarta Post reported on January 9, 2013, that the East Jakarta Police had arrested a man in Parung, Bogor, for his alleged involvement in the sexual assault case.

         Chief Sr Comr Mulyadi Kaharni said the man used to live in Cakung, East Jakarta, at the presumed time of the assaults. RI used to live in the same neighbourhood.

         "We believe four other people were also involved in the case. They could have been RI's neighbours. Our investigations are ongoing," Mulyadi said.

         Prof Badaruddin, a sociologist at the North Sumatra University in Medan, said sexual assaults against children are a violation of human rights.

        Children are a nation's future leaders, and they should be protected by their parents. Such crimes should be prevented.

         Lack of parents' supervision can lead to an increase in the number of victims of rape cases and sexual abuses, he said.

         According to Prof Badaruddin, these heinous crimes are committed by youngsters, adults and even old men.

         The professor referred to a recent case where a 60-year old man raped a five-year old girl 10 times in Bogor, West Java.

          Criminals of rape cases and sexual abuses should be given severe punishment to deter them and others from committing similar crimes in the future, he stated.

          Linda Amalia Sari Gumelar, Minister for Women's Empowerment and Child Protection, is concerned about the increase in the number of cases of violence against women and children.

          "We are concerned because violence against women and children is on the rise," the minister said recently.

          She urged the government, private firms and the public to work closely to prevent the number of sexual assaults from increasing.

          The ministry will intensify public awareness campaigns against such violence to assist people who want to report incidents of violence or sexual abuse to higher authorities.

          She hopes violence against women and children will be eradicated.

          Violence against children in schools was also common in 2012. According to the KPAI, 87 percent of the children in the country claimed they were victims of violence in schools.

        "The rate of violence in schools is pretty high. Around 87 percent of the children in the country claimed they had been treated violently in schools - by teachers, administrative officers and security guards," she said.

         This year, the Commission is keen on implementing a campaign on `child friendly schools' to enlighten relevant stakeholders in schools on ways to protect children.

        "When a student is treated violently, either the victim or his/her schoolmates should report the case to higher authorities. Schools should also provide counselling services," she stated. ***2***
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(T.F001/A/KR-BSR/B003) 16-01-2013 18:11:20