Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo has asked victims of sexual violence to not be afraid to come forward and report the cases to law enforcement officials.

“Some sexual violence victims are afraid or ashamed to report their cases. The government will try its best to protect the victims,” he said at a national seminar on sexual violence at the Faculty of Law, Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta, on Tuesday.

In 2021, as many as 2,257 cases of sexual violence were reported in Central Java Province, he informed. The actual figure would be higher considering that some victims were afraid to file reports, he said.

The Central Java provincial government has prepared several measures to help sexual violence victims, including opening channels for complaints related to sexual violence against women and children and making special regional regulations on the safety of women and children, he informed.

“We are also cooperating with non-governmental organizations (NGOs), law enforcement officers, and collaborating with other provinces as well. We are providing shelters complete with contact numbers so that victims can report their cases,” Pranowo added.

He then asked the public to trust the government.

“I ask the public to believe in us. I always remind the officers to be careful in handling sexual violence cases. We do not want the victim to become the target of bullying. We also try to prevent sexual violence through education. And for sexual violence in children, they should never be exposed,” Pranowo said.

The governor lauded the organizing of the national seminar on sexual violence, which was also attended by activists, lecturers, lawyers, and supreme court judges.

“This seminar is interesting. The content is related to the preparation of the sexual violence prevention bill (RUU TPKS). Hopefully, this can be an interesting input to serve justice in the community,” he remarked.

Source: Antara News