Anti-Sexual Violence Law Will be Passed in Indonesia
by Indonesia Expat
The RUU PKS is hoping to acknowledge the rights
of the victims of sexual violence
Minister of Law and Human Rights, Yassona Laoly, together with the House of Representatives (DPR) legislation board, has collectively agreed on 50 bills to be included in the prioritised 2020 national legislation programme (Prolegnas), including the anti-sexual violence bill known as RUU PKS.
Former Minister of Women Empowerment and Child Protection, Yohana Yembise, previously said that the bill is aimed at reducing the number of sexual crimes in Indonesia, especially those experienced by women and children.
According to data from the central statistics agency (BPS), one of three Indonesian women has experienced sexual harassment while one out of seven children has experienced physical and sexual violence, mental abuse, and child abandonment.
“The RUU PKS can hopefully eliminate discrimination against women as it prevents sexual violence, cracks down on perpetrators of the crime, rehabilitates victims, and establishes the country’s obligation to eradicate sexual violence,” said Coordinating Minister of Politics, Law, and Security Affairs, Mahfud MD.
Commissioner of the National Commission for Women, Azriana, said the stagnation of RUU PKS discussion showed a lack of care from legislators for the thousands of victims from sexual violence.
The National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) recorded that 16,943 women fell victim to sexual assault cases since the bill was first initiated in 2016, with an annual average of 5,327 cases in 2018. Forum Pengada Layanan (FPL) also found that only 40 percent of those were reported to the police and most depressingly, only 10 percent of them were taken to court.
Indonesia Feminist Lawyer Club Chairwoman, Nur Setia Alam Prawiranegara, once said that the rights of sexual violence victims, handled by her organisation, are not represented in the country’s law, such as the right to conduct abortion for rape victims.
The RUU PKS is also hoped to acknowledge the rights of the victims such as legal assistance, psychological assistance, medical assistance, and psychosocial services.
Sounds excellent! Get it done, please!
Sex crimes against children:
Hope for more convictions in Jersey
MORE child sexual abusers could face justice thanks to a major government investment, a senior police officer has said, as new figures show the force recorded 75 sexual crimes against children last year.
The statistics revealed that there were 20 offences of rape, 17 of sexual touching and eight of indecent assault. In some cases a number of the crimes involved a single victim and resulted in prosecutions.
About four in every ten cases of child sexual assault lead to convictions, States police figures show. Of the cases reported in 2018, 44% led to convictions and 40% in 2017. They include non-recent cases of abuse.
Acting Superintendent Alison Fossey has said she hopes a £2.55 million investment in the Island’s sexual assault referral centre – Dewberry House – could help the police gather better evidence in cases of sexual crimes against children and increase the likelihood of gaining more convictions. Yesterday, staff from the children’s charity the NSPCC were in the Island to work with police, prosecutors and others on the early stages of setting up a new ‘child house model’ for Jersey. The aim is to bring all services needed to support children – the police, doctors and social services – who are victims of sexual crimes under one roof in a purpose-built facility.
Last year, 39 children were supported by the SARC but, based on UK figures, it is feared that as many as 1,000 children alive today in the Island could be victims before they turn 18.
Icelandic model works
Dawn Hodson, development manager for the NSPCC, said a child house model was first adopted in Iceland in 1996. Since then, they have seen a ‘doubling’ in reports of child sexual assault and an improvement in the ‘therapeutic wellbeing’ of victims.
The SARC is currently based at 6 Plaisance Terrace on Route du Fort but the facility, which was opened in 2017, has been described as ‘not fit for purpose’.
Acting Supt Fossey said having a purpose-built facility that brought everything needed under one roof could help them improve the evidence they gathered and ‘increase the likelihood of reaching charging thresholds’. And she added that technologies to allow victims to give evidence in court – but from the comfort of the centre – could improve the quality of evidence put before a court or jury and improve the conviction rate.
She said: ‘The development of the SARC to include a child’s house will provide enhanced support to children and young people who are victims of sexual abuse. It intends to offer a joined-up approach where, if required, children and young people can get access to all medical, practical, social care, police and therapeutic support under one roof.
‘From a criminal-justice perspective the aim will be to enhance the children and young people’s experience of the process post-disclosure. The child’s house will provide advocacy and intermediary support which will lead to better engagement and better evidence collected by video interviews. Live links will be provided from the child’s house to the court, thereby potentially preventing the child or young person from being required to attend court. This should reduce stress for them and their caregivers. We believe that this, coupled with the other fundamental elements of the child’s house, such as easier and quicker access to long-term therapeutic support, should increase the likelihood of reaching charging thresholds and gaining convictions.’
Access for disabled people and general privacy issues have also been cited as concerns at the current facility.
A Justice and Home Affairs spokesperson said that a site selection process would be carried out as part of the SARC redevelopment project, now that funding had been secured for it. ‘We are delighted the funding for the new SARC has very recently been approved in the Government Plan,’ they said.
‘The project to turn the funding into reality is commencing. It will follow the usual procedures for site selection, by first identifying the right building specifications to meet clients’ needs, then tendering for the project and full implementation of the new facility.’
DHS Issues Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking
& Other Heinous Crimes
& Other Heinous Crimes
By Tammy Waitt
American Security Today
To report suspected human trafficking, the importation of goods produced with forced labor, or child sexual exploitation to federal law enforcement, call: 1-866-347-2423. To get help from the National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-373-7888 Or text HELP or INFO to 233733 (BEFREE). To get help with child sexual exploitation from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children: 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) or report.cybertip.org. To report suspected forced labor trade violations, submit information at: eallegations.cbp.gov/Home/allegation. Any tip reported is welcome. Provide the information to allow professionals to decide if action can be taken. (Courtesy of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security)
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), is committed to upholding the law and preventing illicit activity from harming American interests.
As part of the homeland security mission, DHS enforces trade, travel, and victim protection laws to combat criminal activity, including human trafficking, the importation of goods produced with forced labor, and child sexual exploitation.
These heinous crimes have no place in our society, and we are leveraging the Department’s authorities to eliminate such inhumane activity.
Towards that end, DHS has published its first Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking, the Importation of Goods Produced with Forced Labor, and Child Sexual Exploitation.
Human trafficking and child sexual exploitation is criminal and has no place in our free society. (Courtesy of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security)
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking, the Importation of Goods Produced with Forced Labor, and Child Sexual Exploitation articulates the Department’s long-term approach for combating these crimes and serves as a framework to prioritize resources and monitor progress.
The strategy outlines five key goals:
ONE—Prevention. Reduce the threat by providing information and resources to specific vulnerable populations, schools, and community groups.
TWO—Protection. Disrupt illicit activity by identifying and assisting victims toward stability and recovery.
THREE—Prosecution. Leverage DHS law enforcement and national security authorities to investigate, take enforcement action, and refer cases for prosecution.
FOUR—Partnership. Build strong partnerships throughout the homeland security enterprise as force multipliers across the Nation.
FIVE—Enabling DHS. Harmonize and organize DHS programs to allow for maximum efficiency and effectiveness in addressing these threats.
For more on this story please visit American Security Today
================================================================================
Rachel Denhollander tells Michigan students,
'Say no to the lies' about sexual abuse
Birmingham — Rachael Denhollander, the first woman to publicly accuse Larry Nassar of sexual abuse, told Michigan high schools students on Thursday that finding the courage to speak out begins with little choices.
"If you are a survivor, it is the power of the little decisions to tell even yourself the truth," Denhollander said before a crowd of 200 students at Seaholm High School in Oakland County. "When you have experienced abuse, there are lies that flood your mind ... You have the power to say no to the lies. You have the power to tell those lies it is not your fault. No one deserves abuse."
Denhollander, in her first public talk with high school students as an advocate for sexual assault survivors across the nation, told the mostly juniors and seniors that they are the solution to the problem of sexual assault being ignored by those in power.
Abuse Survivor Rachael Denhollander, the first woman to publicly accuse former USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University team doctor Larry Nassar of sexual abuse, speaks to students at Birmingham Seaholm High School about her courageous decision to publicly accuse Nassar. (Photo: Max Ortiz, The Detroit News)
"I want you to know you can find someone safe," Denhollander said. "There are adults who will believe you. You have the power to speak truth to the lies you hear in your head and to reach out for help and I want you to know how important that is."
Denhollander told the students she became the victim of sexual assault for the first time when she was 7 years old when a pedophile from her church abused her and she "lost" her community when some people chose not to believe her.
"The message I internalized as an 8-year-old survivor was 'if you can't prove it, don't speak up,'" she said. "And that was the first time I heard that lie in my head. It took years and years to overcome it."
Eight years later, Denhollander said she became a victim again when she met Nassar, the team doctor for the USA Olympic team and a professor at Michigan State University.
Denhollander said "when things didn't seem right in that exam room," she did what everyone around her did and blamed the victim.
"It must be my fault. I was reading into it. I was oversensitive," Denhollander said she told herself.
Birmingham Seaholm High School students listen to Rachael Denhollander on Thursday, January 23, 2020 about her courageous decision to publicly accuse Larry Nassar. (Photo: Max Ortiz, The Detroit News)
When Denhollander realized Nassar was an abuser, she said she heard more lies like "this is your fault," "why didn't you?" and "if only you had." When she finally overcame the lies, Denhollander said she was left with the question of who was going to believe her.
"By 17, I understood what happens to someone who speaks up. I understood the uphill battle I was facing," Denhollander said.
"As a junior in high school, I told my mom, 'I can't do this myself. I can't do it quietly. I can't do it anonymously. I am going to have to have media involved. Something is going to have to take control from Michigan State and from USA Gymnastics and from Larry ... if I have any hope of being believed.'"
God bless you Rachel. You're one courageous woman.
Please visit The Detroit News for more on this story.
UNH researchers awarded $1M for
child sexual exploitation study
By Kimberley Haas Union Leader Correspondent
DURHAM – The Crimes Against Children Research Center at the University of New Hampshire has been awarded $1 million to study technology-facilitated child sexual exploitation.
Researchers will be conducting interviews with police investigators nationally to identify whether training, legislation and policy changes are having a positive impact on communities.
They will also work to determine if there is a new or growing technology-facilitated crime type that needs more attention and resources.
Mitchell said child sexual exploitation can change quickly with technology and that is why it is important to monitor this volatile environment so law enforcement can better respond to these crimes.
Mitchell said they believe they will see a continuation of some trends in the new study. “Offenders seem to be getting a little younger, so late 20s as opposed to in their 30s,” Mitchell said on Thursday.
With the exception of data recorded by police departments involving complaints of sexting, all of the information used for the four-year study will be based upon arrests made by law enforcement, Mitchell said.
Funding for the study comes through a cooperative agreement with the National Institute of Justice, the research arm of the U.S. Department of Justice.
Mitchell will head up the research team in partnership with the National Criminal Justice Training Center. They are the main training and technical assistance provider for the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Forces.
The Crimes Against Children Research Center at UNH studies all forms of crimes against children and adolescents, including sexual assault, abduction, theft, robbery, abuse, neglect and bullying, according to the college’s website.
No comments:
Post a Comment