MoSA Provided Optimal Assistance for Disability as a Rape Victim in South Kalimantan

TANAH BUMBU (29 January 2024) – The Ministry of Social Affairs provided optimal assistance for a teenager with intellectual disability who is a rape victim in Tanah Bambu Regency South Kalimantan. Medical and psychological examination becomes the main focus of the victim handling the trauma that can affect her health. The victim and her mother were relocated to Sentra Banjarbaru in Budiluhur to receive social rehabilitation.

The Ministry of Social Affairs through the Social Welfare Education and Training Centre (BBPPKS) Banjarmasin and Sentra Budiluhur in Banjarbaru facilitated laboratory checks, lung organ examinations, and psychological and psychiatric checks. From those examinations, it was found that the incident had a significant impact on the victim's psychological and psychiatric conditions.

Head of Sentra Budiluhur Cecep Sutriaman said that the victims should be sent to the Sentra in Banjarbaru due to the limited number of experts at the Tanah Bambu Hospital. “We sent them to Sentra to receive residential service for example psychological assistance like therapy and examination by the psychiatrist. The result shows that she needs advanced psychological therapy,” Cecep said in a report to the Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini on Monday (29/01).

At the Sentra, Cecep said, that the victim received psychosocial therapy to increase her self-confidence, as well as communication skills to build a positive feeling in herself. Meanwhile, the mother has received training in parenting skills to help the victim's independence to do daily activities.

“We give an education for parents to provide positive reinforcement and not to show negative emotion that can add the victim’s guilt in putting her parents in a difficult situation,” said Cecep.

Before sending the victim and her mother to Sentra, the Ministry of Social Affairs coordinated with the Police and District Attorney of Tanah Bambu so that the perpetrators could be grounded with maximum punishment. The Ministry of Social Affairs also assists the family and the ongoing cases. Besides, the Ministry of Social Affairs provided ATENSI assistance in the form of nutrition, personal hygiene, and clothes for the victim. 

After getting social rehabilitation at Sentra for 8 days, the victim and her mother can go to their home at Tanah Bambu. The Ministry of Social Affairs will continue to monitor the development of the victim’s recovery and the development of the case from a legal perspective.