REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, SUKABUMI -- Local Integrated Service Center for Woman and Children (P2TP2A) in Sukabumi, W Java, has reported that 47 citizens fell victim to sexual abuse between January and May this year.
"A total of 25 such cases occurred in Sukabumi during this period," Elis Nurbaeti, head of Sukabumi P2TP2A, informed Antara in Sukabumi on Monday.
The number of cases escalated till the beginning of June, which witnessed three major cases of sexual abuse, including the one in which a man raped his step child in the village secretariat, Surade regency.
A girl was raped and murdered by her neighbor in Kadudampit regency. In the most recent case, a 14-year-old suspect was arrested after he sexually abused 11 under aged children, four of whom were sodomized.
Till date this year, more than 60 people have fallen victim to such abuse, and the number may escalate by the time June comes to an end.
"On an average, 9 to 10 people fall victim to sexual abuse in the Sukabumi district every month. The victims could be men, women or even children," she noted.
At the same time, Elis expressed her concern about under aged sex offenders as punishment meted out to them is significantly lighter when compared with what adult offenders receive. She urged the authorities to review the age limit.
P2TP2A revealed that in most sexual abuse cases, perpetrators were under the age of 17, deemed to be under age. Since such people receive mild punishments, Elis hoped that authorities would change the age limit.
"According to Islamic principles, those who have experienced wet dreams and menstrual periods are deemed adults, which means they must assume full responsibility for their action. That is why we hope the government would review how to determine the under aged status," she reiterated.
Also, maximum sanctions need to be imposed to deter sex offenders from committing such crimes ever again.
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