Forced Marriage, Sexual Slavery in Sexual Violence Bill

TheIndonesia.co - The government has included the issues of forced marriage and sexual slavery in the Sexual Violence Prevention Bill (RUU TPKS), Deputy Minister for Law and Human Rights Edward Omar Sharif Hiariej has informed.

 The idea of including forced marriage and sexual slavery in the sexual violence prevention bill came from the government, he said here on Tuesday.

 Meanwhile, the House of Representatives suggested five issues to be included in the bill: non-physical sexual harassment, physical sexual harassment, forced contraception, forced sterilization, and sexual torture, he stated as quoted by Antara, February 22, 2022.

 There may be disagreement or debate on the inclusion of forced marriage in the bill, he said.

 Meanwhile, when pertaining to sexual slavery, the scope has been made broader than stipulated in the Human Trafficking Prevention Law, he informed.

 Within the human trafficking law, the motive has to be financial, he explained.

 Meanwhile, under the sexual violence prevention bill, people who indulge in sexual slavery for reasons that are other than economic can still be penalized, he said.

 In addition, the bill also stipulates the formation of a Child Empowerment and Protection Regional Acting Unit (UPTD PPA), he said.

 The unit, proposed by the Ministry of Home Affairs, will need to be formed in regions once the bill is officially ratified into law, he added.

 "When there is a sexual violence victim, they will be handled by the UPTD PPA," Hiariej said.

 The deputy minister assured that the Sexual Violence Bill will not overlap with other laws.