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Government praised for protecting rape victims

Jakarta Post - August 9, 2014

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Ina Parlina, Jakarta – Experts and women's activists praised on Friday the government's move to issue Government Regulation No. 61/2014 on reproductive health, which not only ensures women's reproductive rights but also protects the rights of rape victims.

The new guideline, signed by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in late July, is a derivative regulation to the 2009 Health Law.

Article 29 of the law states that victims of sexual violence should be handled using multidisciplinary approaches by providing protection for victims in terms of physical and mental health, including the provision of legal measures.

Under the new regulation, a rape victim will have the right to have an abortion, which can only be performed by a certified physician and performed in an established health-care facility, with the consent of a doctor and a statement from a police investigator, psychologist or other expert, within 40 days of the last period.

Other than for rape victims and women with life-threatening medical conditions, abortions are still prohibited.

The National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) welcomed the new regulation, saying that the new rule would give a clear guideline for ensuring women's health and reproductive rights, as well as establishing a proper mechanism on abortion for rape victims.

"In general, as a derivative regulation, it provides better protection for those victims. They can now get better treatment that covers both physical and mental health," Komnas Perempuan member Andy Yentriyani said on Friday.

Andy also praised the regulation for outlining preventive measures, as well as providing more access to information and education on reproductive health for teenagers and women in general.

"We all need to provide a better understanding of reproductive health as early as possible, as well as information regarding sexual abuse and rape to prevent such cases from happening," Andy said.

Under the new regulation, the central government now shares the responsibility with local administrations at the provincial, regency and municipal level of ensuring the reproductive rights of women, including the provision of facilities and health workers as well as designing programs and education.

According to the regulation, services for teenaged girls through education, counseling and treatment are aimed at preventing, protecting and preparing them to live a healthy reproductive life and to be responsible for their own reproductive rights.

"Maternal health services should be provided as early as possible starting during adolescence based on mental and physical development," the new regulation stipulates.

National Commission for Child Protection (Komnas PA) chairperson Arist Merdeka Sirait said that the new set of rules would guarantee access for teenagers and young women to information about their reproductive health.

"Basically, if it is aimed at the better protection of teenagers, we support it," Arist said. "But, every stakeholder must work together to achieve the maximum results. We don't want the new regulation to remain only on paper," he added.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/08/09/govt-praised-protecting-rape-victims.html.