DENPASAR ~

Legal Aid Foundation (LBH) APIK Bali noted that cases of sexual abuse of children lately on the island are increasing.

According to Luh Anggreni from LBH APIK in Denpasar on Tuesday, the abuse happened in some areas in Bali.

She said the lack of information on reproductive health and the Child Protection Act among school students becomes a trigger of sexual crimes against children. She said of the 125 cases related to violence against women and children in Denpasar Police, at the first rank are domestic violence. Then the case of sexual violence against children is in the second position which shows an uptrend.

The emergence of sexual violence, said Anggraeni, is because of a lack of understanding about reproductive health and reproductive organ. In case of sexual abuse of underage in Bali, the perpetrators and the victims are mostly teenagers, who had sexual intercourse before marriage.

The case, said Anggraeni, has become a concern of LBH in Bali and national activists. It has been considered a major issue and should be given serious attention from all parties. Cases of sexual abuse of a minor child can also occur due to the permissive attitude of teenagers who consider sex before marriage as a matter of course.

To overcome the problem, there must be access to information about the dangers of child sexual abuse, sexual reproductive health information, a binding legal instrument such as Child Protection Act, and others.