Government Introduces Death Sentence for Child Rapists

President Jokowi, along with Presidential Chief of Staff and Minister of Justice and Human Rights, announce new government regulation in lieu of law on Child Protection at the Merdeka Palace on Wednesday (25/5) (25/5)

President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo on Wednesday (25/5) signs a Government Regulation in Lieu of Law (Perppu) Number 1 of 2016 on the second amendment to the Law Number 23 of 2002 on Child Protection which regulates harsher punishments for those committed sexual violence against children.

The new Perppu stipulates harsher punishment for the criminals, including additional two third of prison terms, death sentence, life sentence, or a minimum of 10 years and a maximum of 20 years in prison.

“This Perppu is aimed at addressing the number of sexual crimes against children that has significantly increased,” President Jokowi said during the announcement of the Perppu at the Merdeka Palace on Wednesday (22/5).

The Government has declared that sexual violence against children as an extraordinary crime because it threatens children and put their life in danger.

“This crime has ruined the lives of the children and their growth as well as disrupts peace, safety, security and order in the society,” President Jokowi said, adding that it needs extraordinary ways to tackle such crimes.

Meanwhile, additional punishments include the publication of sex criminals’ identities, chemical castration, and the use of electronic monitoring tags.

“New articles in the Perppu will give more rooms for judges to impose severe sanctions for the criminals.

President Jokowi hopes that the Perppu could give deterrent effects for the criminals and reduce the number of such crimes.

Also attending the announcement of the Perppu were Minister of Justice and Human Rights Yasonna H. Laoly, Presidential Chief of Staff Teten Masduki and Member of the Presidential Communication Team Ari Dwipayana. (FID/RAH/ES) (EP/YM/Naster)