MoSA Provides Assistance to Seven Child-Victims of Sexual Violence and Oversees Legal Process against Perpetrators

BANYUWANGI (13 February 2023) - The Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA) handled and provided assistance to seven children who experienced sexual violence in Banyuwangi. At the direction of the Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini, MoSA’s team also coordinated with law enforcement to ensure that the perpetrator received appropriate sanctions.

Sexual violence was perpetrated by the school principal who is also a tahfidz teacher in Banyuwangi Regency. The seven victims were students of the perpetrator, namely J (14), R (14), K (9), Khs (12), A (9), V (14), and S (12). The perpetrator is sentenced to 20 years for his uncivilized act.

Responding to this case, MoSA’s team conducted an assessment and provided assistance to the victims. "We have provided counseling and psychosocial support to the victims. MoSA’s team also provides hypnotherapy and emotional stabilization. To the parents, the team provides counseling sessions and increases knowledge regarding child care," said the Director of Child Social Rehabilitation Kanya Eka Santi.

Most of the victims grew up in underprivileged families. J's father is an ice cream peddler, and her mother worked as a migrant worker in Singapore. A's father is a farmer who rents someone else's land. As for V, her father and mother are divorced. V was mostly raised by her grandmother.

Kanya stated that MoSA handed over assistance to families in the form of basic food assistance (rice, cooking oil, eggs, tea), nutrition (milk, honey, biscuits), personal hygiene and ADL kits (soap, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrush, dishwashing liquid, laundry detergent), and school supplies (shoes, school bags, pencil cases, school stationery, notebooks, drawing books, coloring books, coloured pencils).

In addition, MoSA also handed over entrepreneurship empowerment assistance to J’s family in the form of the business capital of 10 buckets of ice cream (8 liters/bucket). To A’s family, MoSA provided economic recovery assistance in the form of 3 sacks of non-subsidized fertilizer (@ 50 kg).

Entrepreneurial assistance is provided according to the needs and wishes of the victim's parents. "It is hoped that their income will increase by this assistance," said Kanya.

Kanya, in her statement, emphasized that many perpetrators of child abuse come from the closest people, namely biological fathers, stepfathers, grandfathers, uncles, neighbours, girlfriends, teachers, caregivers, friends from social media, and strangers.

The study by the Ministry of Social Affairs also shows that children often experience more than one act of violence. Periods of violence can last for a certain period of time and can be more than one type of violence, both directly and online.

Therefore, in line with the direction of the Minister of Social Affairs, the ranks of the Ministry of Social Affairs pay important attention to legal action against perpetrators.

Public Relations Bureau

Ministry of Social Affairs