Devina Halim, Jakarta – The Pro-Women’s National Legislation Program Network (JKP3) is calling on the House of Representatives (DPR) and the government to straighten out fake news or hoaxes about the Draft Law on the Elimination of Sexual Violence (RUU PKS). One of the hoaxes circulating says that the RUU PKS will create a permissive culture of adultery and free sex.
JKP3 Coordinator Ratna Bantara Mukti suspects that these hoaxes are able to spread because there is misinformation in public sphere.
“The JKP3 is demanding that the government and the DPR RI immediately straighten out this misinformation by providing information about the substance of the RUU PKS, along with the urgent need to prevent sexual violence and [provide] protection and rehabilitation to victims”, said Mukti at a press conference at the Jakarta Legal Aid Foundation (LBH) offices in Central Jakarta on Wednesday February 6.
The JKP3 is also pushing for the RUU to be ratified before the government and DPR’s current term ends this year. Mukti added that the RUU should also incorporate five proposals from the JKP3 and the civil society coalition.
The five proposals consist of nine forms of sexual violence which have not been acknowledged up until now, more sensitive legal procedures, integrated case handling, guarantees of victim’s rights and changes to the social paradigm on sexual violence. They also want the DPR and the government to accept input based on the experiences of victims and their families.
“Open up space for public participation to provides constructive input on the RUU PKS using the factual basis of the experiences of victims and the families of victims (children, the disabled). There is not yet adequate legislation covering these things”, she explained.
The JKP3 through Mukti is also calling on the DPR to prove itself by showing that it sides with the survivors of sexual violence.
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was “DPR dan Pemerintah Diminta Luruskan Hoaks soal RUU PKS”.]
