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House of Representatives’ Plenary Meeting Session IV, Session Year 2021–2022, at the Parliament Complex, Jakarta, Tuesday (April 12, 2022). (ANTARA PHOTOS/Galih Pradipta/aww/my) - 

The Southeast Asia Freedom of Expression Network (SAFEnet) has said that law enforcement officials must prioritize victims when implementing the Sexual Violence Law in order to address sexual violence cases properly.

“Now, since we have already had the Sexual Violence Law (UU TPKS), we need for its implementation to (prioritize) victims. For example, related to online gender-based violence, Article 14 of the Sexual Violence Law (stipulates about) electronic-based sexual violence. The article contains measures to take against threats of spreading intimate content and tracking against stalking. So, these actions can be (sanctioned) under the Sexual Violence Law," head of the sub-division of online gender-based violence of SAFEnet, Ellen Kusuma, said.

She delivered the statement during a Ramadan Study webinar entitled 'Women and Digital Piety,’ held by the Aisyiyah Research and Development Institute (LPPA) at Central Executive Aisyiyah, which was accessed online from here on Friday.

Kusuma also called for other forms of protection aside from the Sexual Violence Law, which is required by victims of sexual violence, particularly women.

She said she believed that the state needs to provide unbiased legal certainty to women.

"This legal certainty can be provided through the application of the Supreme Court Regulation Number 3 of 2017 about Guidelines for Adjudicating Women's Cases Pertaining to Law," she added.

The regulation lays down the basis for gender equality, for instance, by regulating the manner in which judges behave in court toward women litigants.

It also lists aspects that must be considered by judges when examining and handling women's cases. They include the presence or absence of inequalities in social status, physical powerlessness, power relations, history of violence, and psychological impact.

The regulation also prohibits judges from showing attitude or making gender-biased comments, allowing discrimination against women, and asking about the sexual history of the victim.

The regulation also allows women victims to bring a companion to court for certain reasons//ANT