The whole world seems to be forgetting that Indonesia exists. The fight for justice and equality is just starting in this country of islands. Jakarta, Indonesia’s capital, makes the top ten list of the Most Dangerous Cities in SouthEast Asia for women in 2019. That in itself is a red flag for Jakarta to change. Victims of sexual violence have spoken out about this issue countless times, holding marches in front of the Legislation Body’s building, asking for the justice they deserve. That’s not going to be possible if the government doesn’t address this issue, and they haven’t.
A bill, called RUU-PKS, has been supported by many associations since 2014, but took nearly six years for it to reach legislation. In July, this bill was dropped. The bill that sides with victims; the bill that will finally give victims what they need to get better and the justice they deserve. The bill stated that victims have rights to handling, protection, and recovery, which is still very much non-existent for victims right now, without this bill.
Indonesia is partly a conservative country, with conservative Muslims dominating most government positions, with many believing the bill is not beneficial in a conservative society. Some of the claims made are that RUU-PKS supports free sex and LGBTQ+ identities, the two things conservatives hate. These claims have been made because the bill doesn’t include LGBTQ+ people or situations of sexual abuse surrounding free sex. It only identified nine types of violence, sexual harassment, sexual exploitation, forced contraception, forced abortion, rape, coercion of marriage, coercion of prostitution, sexual slavery, and/or sexual torture.
RUU-PKS is needed more than ever: the alarming amount of cases and victims piling up is frightening. If this bill isn’t passed, it’s another win for sexual abusers.
Written by Savannah
Artwork by Izzy Johns
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