Indonesia has introduced the death penalty and chemical castration as punishments for child rapists, following public outrage over a series of violent crimes against children. President Joko Widodo signed an emergency presidential decree to implement the new regulations, which are effective immediately but subject to parliamentary approval.
The move comes after the gang-rape and murder of 14-year-old Yuyun, as well as the rape and killing of an 18-year-old factory worker. Previously, the maximum sentence for rape was 14 years in prison. Under the new rules, offenders may also be required to wear electronic monitoring devices after release.
President Widodo stated, 'An extraordinary crime deserves an exceptional response,' adding that the regulation is 'intended to overcome the crisis caused by sexual violence against children.' The measures have garnered widespread support on social media and in polls, with many calling for harsher penalties for child sex offenders.
However, human rights activists have criticised the new laws. Mariana Aminudi from the National Commission on Violence Against Women argued that 'the castration law is evidence that the government does not view sexual assaults as act of violence but merely as a matter of controlling sexual urges.' Sandra Moniaga from the National Commission on Human Rights added, 'Violence will not be stopped by violent punishments.'
