THE increase in the number of cases of sexual violence once morest children in educational units in Indonesia over the past four years cannot be denied. This refers to data from the Ministry of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection (PPPA) in 2022, victims of sexual violence reached 21,221 people.

On the other hand, the Ministry of Education and Culture is committed to eradicating three major sins in the world of education, namely sexual violence, bullying and intolerance. Among the three cases handled by the Ministry of Education and Culture, sexual violence occurs most often in the world of education, namely 115 cases.

Seeing this, PPPA Minister Bintang Puspayoga said that sexual violence is like an iceberg phenomenon. In terms of the number of recorded cases, it seems to be decreasing, but the facts on the ground can say otherwise. The reason is, there are victims who are reluctant to report because they are afraid of getting negative views from the community.

The choice to be reluctant to report also occurs in universities because of fear of not being processed. Another factor in this choice is the power relationship between the perpetrator and the victim.

“We see that the cases of violence that we assisted at that time were inseparable from power relations. This is what became a problem in handling to provide justice to the victims and a deterrent effect to the perpetrators,” said Bintang in the Kick Andy program episode ‘Don’t Be Silent’ by presenting other speakers, namely Hannah Al Rashid and Maria Immaculata, which aired on Sunday (7/7).

Bintang took an example of a case of sexual violence experienced by a student and stopped by the police. After accompanying the victim legally, the case was reprocessed.

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“Victims who do not dare to report will cause the same case to continue to repeat itself. That’s why we ask you not to remain silent. This is an extraordinary thing to dare to speak up to provide justice for the victim and a deterrent effect for the perpetrator,” he added.

Assistance to victims is immediately provided, Bintang sees that victims of sexual violence often experience long trauma so they need psychosocial assistance. He ensures that all victims do not need to be afraid to report because there is already a legal umbrella in Law Number 12 of 2022 which emphasizes that with only one piece of evidence, cases of sexual violence can be processed. This is protection, prevention and handling for victims.

Bintang also revealed an experience that often brought tears to her eyes during her time as Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection. Almost five years as a minister, there is still sadness left, especially when visiting areas that have not provided maximum protection and assistance to victims of sexual violence.

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Bintang said, when he came to Waingapu, East Sumba, East Nusa Tenggara, in 2020, he saw a child in an unfit safe house. The child’s eyes were empty because he did not receive social assistance.

“They can’t express how much suffering there is. Children giving birth to children, that’s what happens in some areas that we see,” he said.

Bintang admitted that handling and assisting victims of sexual violence in remote and underdeveloped areas is indeed quite difficult. The lack of health workers, psychologists, and accompanying officers makes handling of sexual violence cases not run properly.

“The case was not resolved legally, only through custom and religion. This is what makes the cases that befall this vulnerable group never stop,” said Bintang. (M-3)