Kupastuntas.co, Bandar Lampung - A total of 307 women and children in Lampung Province became victims of violence during the January-June 2023 period. The victims of violence were dominated by children under the age of 79.2 percent.

The Lampung Province Women's Empowerment and Child Protection Service (DPPPA) noted that from January to June 2023 there were 285 cases of violence against women and children in Lampung with a total of 307 victims.

Head of PPPA Lampung Province Office, Fitrianita Damhuri said, of these, violence against minors was still the dominating case.

"The percentage of victims of violence that occurred was 20.8 percent or 64 cases occurred to adults, and 79.2 percent or 243 cases occurred to minors," said Fitrianita, Friday (21/7).

Fitrianita revealed that Central Lampung Regency was the area with the most cases, namely 72, and West Lampung Regency with the lowest 3 cases.

"Of the 285 cases, the total number of victims was 307. In detail, 64 cases occurred in adults, and the other 243 cases occurred in children," he said.

She explained that there were several factors behind the occurrence of violence against women and children in Lampung Province, including economic factors and child marriage. The majority of perpetrators and victims of violence still have family ties.

Fitrianita explained that various efforts had been made to prevent violence against women and children, including educating the community and families, involving various figures, both community leaders, religious leaders and other related parties.

"So we have three ongoing efforts to suppress violence against women and children. Namely prevention, treatment or assistance to victims and finally reintegration. We continue to maximize these efforts to suppress cases," explained Fitrianita.

The Director of the Lampung Province Monitoring Institute for Women and Children's Rights (LPHPA), Toni Fisher, encouraged law enforcement officials (APH) to apply appropriate punishment to all perpetrators of violence against women and children.

"We really hope that law enforcement officials in Lampung will immediately apply castration to all perpetrators of sexual violence against children, not only to perpetrators of biological fathers but to all perpetrators," said Toni.

According to him, in order to apply an appropriate punishment, all elements of society, especially the local government, need to be supported, bearing in mind that in Lampung there was a castration sentence but it was annulled at a higher court.

The former Chairperson of the Lampung Province National Commission for Child Protection (KPA) in the Field of Fulfilling Children's Rights also hopes that the central government will conduct monitoring and evaluation of all levels of local government in Lampung related to various programs and budgets for the protection of women and children.

"Once again, I ask the Central Government starting from the Coordinating Minister for PMK, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, Bappenas, Minister for Home Affairs, Minister for PPPA, come down and check the ability of local governments in Lampung in protecting children and women in Lampung," he explained.

The Damar Lampung Women's Advocacy Institute said that the rampant cases of violence against women and children that occurred in Lampung indicated a lack of safe space for women and children from these crimes.

"Sexual violence that occurs against children or incest with the perpetrator is very dominating the biological father. This shows that there is no safe and comfortable place for women and children, including at home," said Damar Lampung Executive Director, Eka Tiara Chandra Nanda.

Eka explained, the main factors that still occur in many cases of violence against women and children today are patriarchal culture and power relations.

"The concept of patriarchal culture and power relations that women and children belong to husbands or parents are the main factors in the occurrence of these acts of violence," She said.

According to him, what should be a concern is the impact after the incident of violence, namely the physical impact in the form of transmission of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) including unwanted pregnancies.

"Victims have the potential to experience internal injuries, bleeding, damage to internal organs. So it is important for victims to be given health rehabilitation services, especially reproductive health, with a series of other routine checks," said Eka.

In addition, he continued, the psychological impact on child victims of sexual violence and abuse will experience deep trauma. "Victims of violence and sexual harassment are often ostracized in social life," She explained.

He explained, in response to this, what must be done is to provide health services in the form of psychological recovery, and rehabilitation and social reintegration services to victims. So that victims get motivation and moral support to get back up and continue their lives.

Efforts that are no less important are provide education or knowledge to children about gender equity and anti-violence, as well as sexual education both at school and in other social groups.

"Damar really supports law enforcement efforts for victims by implementing the Law on Sexual Violence in cases that occur," She said.

Governor Receives Award

Meanwhile, the Governor of Lampung, Arinal Djunaidi won the Child-Friendly Province Pioneer Award (Provila) from the Indonesian Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection on the eve of the 2023 Child-friendly district/city appreciation award at the Padma Hotel Semarang, Central Java, Saturday (22/7).

The Provila Award was given to Arinal Djunaidi because he was considered to have excelled in coaching, supervising and assisting districts/cities in fulfilling children's rights and special protection for children through the implementation of KLA, both policies, programs and activities in accordance with statutory mandates.

By achieving this award, it means that Lampung has won the award twice since 2022 and again in 2023.

The award was handed over directly by the Minister of PPPA Bintang Puspayoga to 14 provinces that received the Predicate of Child-Friendly Provinces, including one of them, Lampung Province.

Provila is a form of synergy and hard work both at districts/cities and across districts/cities within each province in realizing efforts to fulfill and protect children's rights.

Provila can be achieved if all districts and cities become child-friendly districts/cities (KLA), all sub-districts and villages/kelurahan become child-friendly sub-districts and villages/wards (Kelana and Dekela). (*)

This news has been published in Kupas Tuntas daily newspaper, Monday 24 July 2023 edition with the title "307 Women and Children in Lampung Become Victims of Violence"