Jakarta – The National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) has condemned an assault of a couple accused of having premarital sex in Tangerang, saying the act was inhumane and degrading.
The assault, during which people reportedly stripped off the couple's clothes on Nov. 11, violated human rights principles addressed in the Constitution, says the commission.
"Komnas Perempuan views the act as sexual torture and inhumane punishment conducted by residents," the commission said in a statement on Thursday. The mob assault has destroyed the female victim's dignity and will affect her long into the future, it added.
The assault, during which the woman was accused of being immoral, has also occurred in other areas such as Aceh, Sragen and Riau.
As a result, Komnas Perempuan has urged the government to soon deliberate a draft bill on sexual assault eradication to better protect women and act as a deterrent for perpetrators.
The commission also expressed hope that the individuals involved in the Tangerang attack would be severely punished, as well as those who recorded the incident and uploaded the recording on the internet.
The commission also demanded that the public stop circulating the recording to prevent further stigmatization of the female victim and prevent similar incidents in the future.