Legal protection for children as victims of sexual violence is regulated in the Child Protection Law, which aims to guarantee and protect children so that they can live, grow, and develop optimally, and receive protection from violence and discrimination. This legal protection effort includes psychological and physical rehabilitation of victims. Based on Article 59A of the Child Protection Law, victims of sexual crimes are included in the category who are entitled to special protection, such as a guarantee of security during the growth and development process. Article 69A stipulates that special protection efforts can be carried out through:
- Education about reproductive health, religious values, and morality;
- Social rehabilitation;
- Psychosocial assistance during treatment until recovery; and
- Providing protection and assistance at every stage of the examination, from investigation to trial.
Overall, the legal protection regulated in the Child Protection Law can be more effective if accompanied by prevention efforts by parents, education staff, and the government. Parents can prevent sexual violence by providing early sexual education, maintaining openness with children, supervising children's daily activities, and teaching religious values. Education staff can help through a curriculum that encourages positive behavior, working with the local health and PPA services to provide counseling, and forming a sexual violence task force in schools. The government also plays an important role by conducting visits and outreach about sexual violence in schools, as well as enforcing the law to provide a deterrent effect to perpetrators of sexual violence.
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