Sri Wiyanti Eddyono, S.H., LL.M.(HR)., Ph.D., Chair of the Centre for Law, Gender, and Society (LGS) at the UGM Faculty of Law, in collaboration with PKBH FH UGM and LKP3A Fatayat NU Depok, conducted a legal outreach session on the Prevention and Response to Sexual Violence for members of LKP3A Fatayat Depok, in Kapanewon Depok, Sleman, on Monday, September 30, 2024.
The session aimed to build participants' capacity to carry out community-based prevention and response efforts in relation to sexual violence, and to ensure adequate victim accompaniment (pendampingan korban). Without proper accompaniment, law enforcement cannot deliver justice to victims, since their rights remain unmet. More than that, legal proceedings conducted without adequate victim support can lead to secondary victimization the opposite of what the Law on Sexual Violence Crimes (Undang-Undang Tindak Pidana Kekerasan Seksual/UU TPKS) is designed to achieve.
Penyuluhan hukum tersebut dihadiri oleh 16 peserta dari LKP3A Fatayat Depok. Penyuluhan tersebut bertujuan untuk: 1) memberikan penyuluhan mengenai UU TPKS, termasuk bentuk-bentuk kekerasan seksual, mekanisme penanganan kekerasan seksual, dan penekanan peran pendamping dalam penanganan kekerasan seksual yang efektif; 2) melakukan diskusi mengenai upaya-upaya pencegahan kekerasan seksual; 3) membahas praktik-praktik pendampingan yang dapat dilakukan pendamping yang menemui kasus kekerasan seksual dan dilibatkan dalam penanganan kekerasan seksual; dan 4) menyediakan konsultasi dan pendampingan dalam hal ditemukan kasus kekerasan seksual pada saat penyuluhan hukum.
The session covered the forms of sexual violence recognized under UU TPKS, mechanisms for responding to it, and the critical role of advocates in the process. Sri Wiyanti noted that participants occupy a dual role: as community figures who can use public trust to build awareness around sexual violence, and as individuals in private roles, such as as mothers, who can instill an awareness of all forms of violence prevention from within the home.
Sri Wiyanti also highlighted an important caution: participants must be careful not to become complicit in sexual violence themselves. For instance, in cases of forced child marriage, some participants reported being asked to provide recommendations to authorities attesting that a child "has been living together" with their intended spouse. If a participant provides such a recommendation in circumstances involving forced child marriage, they may themselves be liable under UU TPKS for obstruction of justice.
The session supports SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), with one key indicator under SDG 16 being the reporting of violence experienced by women. This legal outreach program is expected to equip members of LKP3A Fatayat Depok with the knowledge, awareness, and skills needed to take part in the prevention and handling of sexual violence.
Author: Arimbi Fajari Furqon (LGS)
Editor: Public Relations
