Peer-reviewed article
Handling Victims of Sexual Violence Against Children in the Criminal Justice System in Indonesia
Marlene Sualang, Noenik Soekorini, Syahrul Borman ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study analyzes how Indonesia's criminal justice system handles children who are victims of sexual violence. Although Indonesia has strengthened its legal framework through the Child Protection Law and the Sexual Violence Crimes Law of 2022, the research found that implementation still faces serious obstacles. Key problems include limited victim-centered approaches, risk of re-victimization during legal proceedings, and poor coordination between law enforcement institutions. The study calls for an integrated, victim-oriented justice system that prioritizes children's protection and recovery.
Key points
- Sexual violence against children in Indonesia causes long-term physical, psychological, and social harm
- Children face barriers to accessing justice including fear, trauma, power imbalances, and inadequate institutional support
- Legal framework has been strengthened through recent legislation, including the Sexual Violence Crimes Law Number 12 of 2022
- Implementation of legal protections faces significant challenges including limited victim-centered approaches and risk of re-victimization
- Insufficient coordination among law enforcement institutions hampers effective handling of cases
Limitations
This is a normative legal analysis examining laws and regulations rather than empirical data on case outcomes or victim experiences. The document does not provide quantitative evidence on the prevalence of sexual violence against children or the effectiveness of specific interventions in practice.
Abstract
Sexual violence against children remains a serious and escalating problem in Indonesia, causing long-term physical, psychological, and social harm to victims. Children, as vulnerable individuals, often face difficulties in accessing justice due to fear, trauma, power imbalances, and inadequate institutional support. This study aims to analyze the handling of child victims of sexual violence within the Indonesian criminal justice system and to examine the forms of legal protection provided to them. This research employs a normative legal research method using a statutory and conceptual approach by examining relevant laws and regulations, including the Child Protection Law and Law Number 12 of 2022 on Sexual Violence Crimes. The results show that although the legal framework for protecting child victims has been strengthened, particularly through the enactment of the Sexual Violence Crimes Law, its implementation within the criminal justice system still faces significant challenges. These include limited victim-centered approaches, risks of re-victimization during legal proceedings, and insufficient coordination among law enforcement institutions. The study concludes that an effective handling of child victims of sexual violence requires an integrated, victim-oriented criminal justice system that prioritizes protection, recovery, and the best interests of the child.