Indonesia approves chemical castration, death penalty law on child sex convicts.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo. Pic: AP.
CONVICTED child sex offenders may soon face chemical castration in Indonesia after its Parliament approved a regulation to introduce harsher penalties on such criminals, despite criticisms from rights groups.
According to the Straits Times (via the Jakarta Post), Indonesia's house of representatives gave the green light on the punishment after a heated debate on Wednesday. The regulation was inked in May by President Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo following a string of sex crimes against children that had caused public outcry.
Prior to Wednesday's approval, the maximum penalty for sex offences involving children was 15 years' prison. The heavier punishments mooted by Jokowi included the death penalty.
SEE ALSO: Indonesia: Child sex offenders to face chemical castration to curb sexual violence
Since the regulation was passed in lieu of law – a provision under Indonesia's Constitution that gives the president the right to issue a rule for emergency reasons (Perppu) – Parliament has a year-long time frame to let it remain effective or end it.
Ledia Hanifa, a lawmaker from the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), said lawmakers had asked the government to deliberate the finer details of how the castration penalty would be meted out. PKS was one of the initial two parties that had initially rejected the passage of the law, but eventually relented.
She said the new regulation neglects the victim and merely focussed on punishing the perpetrators.
"The Perppu still lacks concern for the victims, as it focuses only on punishing the perpetrators but neglects to provide compensation, restitution and rehabilitation for victims and their families," Ledia was quoted as saying.
SEE ALSO: Indonesian court sentences gang leader to death over rape and murder of girl
Earlier this month, an Indonesian court sentenced to death the leader of a gang of men and boys who raped and murdered a school girl in a high-profile case.
He was part of a group of 14 men, including eight boys, who were involved in the gang rape on the remote island. The youngest attacker was only 13 years old.
The sentencing came after the April 2 murder of Yuyun, who was gang-raped and killed while she was on her way home from school. Her body was discovered dumped in a river at a rubber plantation in a small village of the Bengkulu Province, Sumatra, two days after the incident.
In wake of the crime, women's groups called for the government to pass an Elimination of Sexual Violence Bill.
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