THE EFFECTIVENESS OF LEGAL PROTECTION FOR CHILDREN VICTIMS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE AFTER THE ENACTMENT OF LAW NUMBER 12 OF 2022 CONCERNING THE CRIME OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47652/metadata.v8i2.1078Keywords:
Legal Effectiveness; Child Protection; Sexual Violence; Law Number 12 Of 2022; Child Sacrifice.Abstract
Sexual violence against children is one of the most damaging forms of human rights violations for the future of the nation's generations, and the number of cases in Indonesia does not show a significant downward trend even though the country has special legal instruments. The ratification of Law Number 12 of 2022 concerning the Crime of Sexual Violence (TPKS Law) is expected to be a legal breakthrough that fills the regulatory gap regarding the prevention, handling, protection, and recovery of victims, especially children. This article aims to examine the extent to which the TPKS Law is effective in protecting child victims of sexual violence in the first three years of its implementation (2022-2025), by examining the gap between normative-juridical protection and factually felt by victims in the field. This study uses a normative juridical method with a statute approach and a conceptual approach, supported by a literature study on official data from state institutions as well as national and international literature for the last five years. The results of the study show that the TPKS Law has normatively expanded the definition of sexual violence, introduced a mechanism for mandatory restitution, psychological assistance, and the establishment of a Regional Technical Implementation Unit for the Protection of Women and Children (UPTD PPA), but its implementation is still hampered by the lack of implementing regulations in the early days, limited capacity of law enforcement officials, and the low ratio of cases that continue to the judicial process. The issuance of Government Regulation Number 30 of 2025 as an implementing regulation is also studied as an indicator of strengthening the effectiveness of advanced legislation. The novelty of this research lies in the synthesis of cross-year data trends (2022-2025) that have not been found in previous studies which are generally based on single-decision studies, resulting in a longitudinal and contextual map of legal effectiveness on the condition of child victims in Indonesia. This article recommends accelerating the harmonization of implementing regulations at the regional level and strengthening institutional capacity as a prerequisite for the effectiveness of the TPKS Law as a whole.
References
Andayani, T., Achmad, R., & Flambonita, S. (2021). Legal protection for children victims of sexual exploitation. Journal of Lex Lata, 3(1), 104-121.
Andriansyah, A., Saraswati, R., & Cahyaningtyas, I. (2023). Guardians of innocence: Enhancing legal safeguards for child victims of sexual violence in Indonesia. Indonesia Law Review, 13(3).
Antoni, H., Hosnah, A. U., & Simanjuntak, A. C. A. (2024). Legal protection for victims of sexual violence against children based on Law Number 12 of 2022 concerning the Crime of Sexual Violence. Logic: Journal of Research at the University of Kuningan, 15(2), 235-247.
Arief, B. N. (2022). Criminal law policy: Development of the drafting of the new Criminal Code concept. Jakarta: Kencana.
Cotterrell, R. (2022). Sociology of law: An introduction (3rd ed.). Abingdon: Routledge.
European Parliamentary Research Service. (2025). European Day for the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse. Brussels: European Parliament.
Gultom, M. (2010). Legal protection of children in the juvenile criminal justice system in Indonesia. Bandung: Refika Aditama.
Komnas Perempuan. (2023). Annual Record (CATAHU) 2023: Sexual violence and the challenges of victim recovery. Jakarta: National Commission on Anti-Violence against Women.
Kourti, A., Stavridou, A., Panagouli, E., Psaltopoulou, T., Spiliopoulou, C., Tsolia, M., Sergentanis, T. N., & Tsitsika, A. (2023). Domestic violence during the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 24(2), 719-745. https://doi.org/10.1177/15248380211038690
Mawarni, W., Hidayati, R., & Rokhim, A. (2023). Legal protection for children victims of sexual violence according to positive laws in Indonesia. Mercatory Journal, 16(1), 13-30.
Mazerolle, L., Antrobus, E., Bennett, S., & Tyler, T. R. (2021). Procedural justice and police legitimacy. Annual Review of Criminology, 4, 1-25.
Moffu, R. (2026). Effectiveness of handling cases of sexual violence against children by the PPA Unit of the Jayapura City Police Criminal Investigation Unit. Ratio Legis Journal.
Napitupulu, M., & Koswara, I. Y. (2025). Protection of children from the victimization of sexual violence in the perspective of victimology. Journal of Judiciary of Pulpit Law, 11(2), 115-128.
Neuman, W. L. (2021). Social research methods: Qualitative and quantitative approaches (8th ed.). Harlow: Pearson.
Pali, B., & Lünnemann, K. (Eds.). (2023). Restorative justice in cases of sexual violence. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Finding of Justice. (2025). TPKS Law: Constraints on implementing regulations, apparatus capacity, and victim protection. Rechtsvinding Journal, National Legal Development Agency.
Republic of Indonesia. (2014). Law No. 35 of 2014 concerning Amendments to Law No. 23 of 2002 concerning Child Protection. Statute Book of the Republic of Indonesia of 2014 No. 297.
Republic of Indonesia. (2022). Law Number 12 of 2022 concerning the Crime of Sexual Violence. Statute Book of the Republic of Indonesia of 2022 No. 120, Supplement to Statute Book of the Republic of Indonesia No. 6792.
Republic of Indonesia. (2025). Government Regulation Number 30 of 2025 concerning Implementing Regulation of Law Number 12 of 2022 concerning the Crime of Sexual Violence.
Researchgate. (2025). Legal protection for child victims of sexual violence in Semarang: Analysis of Decision No. 431/Pid.Sus/2023/PN.Smg.
Rijadi, P., Mahmudah, A. F., & Jamil. (2025). Comparative legal protection for women and child victims of sexual violence in Southeast Asia: A normative and policy gap analysis. Remittances Review, 10(2), 181-187.
Rock, P. (2021). The foundations of victimology. Abingdon: Routledge.
Sebastian, A. (2022). Victim-centric approach in sexual violence cases: Challenges in the Southeast Asian legal landscape. Asian Journal of Criminology, 17(2), 115-134.
Sinha, V., & Singh, S. K. (2025). Safeguarding innocence: A critical analysis of the POCSO Act's impact on child protection. International Journal of Research Publication and Reviews, 6(4).
Nst, V. F. H., Isnaini, D. B. J., Supriadi, S., Syafrizal, S., & Ichsan, R. N. (2025). Model Of Human Resource Collaboration Strategy In Strengthening Msme Halal Products In The Indonesian Nias Islands. Scientific Journal of METADATA, 7(3), 62-79.
Ichsan, R. N., Nst, V. F. H., Supriadi, S., Syafrizal, S., & Lubis, F. P. A. (2025). Sharia principles, digital transformation, and local economy: Challenges and opportunities for Sharia cooperatives in Langkat Regency. Scientific Journal of METADATA, 7(3), 30-41.
Ichsan, R. N., Siregar, B. A., Suma, D., Nst, V. F. H., & Lubis, F. P. A. (2025). Halal Industry In The Fulfillment Of Sharia Maqasid: A Qualitative Study On Halal Business Actors In North Sumatra. Scientific Journal of METADATA, 7(2), 80-97.
Wijaya, D. M., Nst, V. F. H., & Isnaini, D. B. Y. (2025). Designing A Talent Management Strategy To Address Organizational Transformation Challenges: A Case Study of PT. Sentosa Deli Mandiri. Monetically: Journal of Finance and Banking, 13(1), 125-138
