BREBES (July 31, 2023) – A 6-year-old child in Brebes was raped by her uncle in Brebes, Central Java. When the case came to light in early July, the Ministry of Social Affairs through the Baturraden Satria Center and the Directorate of Child Social Rehabilitation immediately responded with an assessment and emergency intervention. Cases of sexual violence against children are of concern to the Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini.

During the assessment process by social workers and psychologists from the Ministry of Social Affairs, victim R (6) showed no sadness on her face. She was active and cheerful when invited to play and occasionally looked embarrassed when asked. The assessment process through play brought a friendly atmosphere and R began to open up. She admitted that she was sad and confused because her mother forbade her from going out to play so she no longer had any friends. R's sadness grew when she saw her mother and grandmother were also sad.

R did not fully understand what was happening because she was still developing critical thinking skills as a child. This situation has made many children vulnerable to sexual violence. Based on assessment results, the Ministry of Social Affairs focuses on the psychological recovery of children and their families. In cases of sexual violence, the closest relatives often bear a significant psychological burden.

"For children, officers provide therapy in the form of hypnotherapy, art therapy, and supportive therapy. Children are also invited to change their perceptions about good and bad people, and provide knowledge about body boundaries," said the Head of the Satria Baturraden Center Darmanto, Friday (7/28).

Meanwhile, the victim's parents are given psychoeducation related to parenting. R's family is asked to try to cover up their sadness or anger in front of their children and to provide space for children to play or not to forbid them. Education regarding which parts of the body can and cannot be touched is also part of psychoeducation for families.

Darmanto said the Ministry of Social Affairs took the child to a pediatrician and a psychiatrist to ensure the child's health and psychological condition. As a result, the child needed nutritional intake and experienced symptoms of anxiety so he was given treatment in the form of pharmacotherapy.

"Based on the examination results, we provided ATENSI assistance, including additional nutrition, educational play tools, clothing, school supplies, and baby supplies for the victim's younger sibling," he said.

In the legal case, according to Darmanto, his party has coordinated with the Brebes Police and Prosecutor's Office so that the perpetrator can be given the maximum sentence. The team is also advocating the perpetrator's sentence be increased by 1/3 of the criminal threat, considering that the perpetrator is still related to the victim. In addition, the Ministry of Social Affairs and the Brebes Social Office visited the local government apparatus to provide support for the victim's family.

Meanwhile, the incident involving the child caused her parents to temporarily stop working to focus on the legal case and the victim's psychological recovery. Therefore, the Ministry of Social Affairs, Darmanto said, provided business assistance.

"We supported their entrepreneurship by helping with a snack stall business because her mother had previously sold snacks but had to stop for some reason. Eventually, we continued providing entrepreneurship assistance," he said.

Darmanto added that the distribution of this entrepreneurship assistance was carried out according to the direction of the Minister of Social Affairs to support the family's economy.