Deti Mega Purnamasari, Jakarta – The National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) recorded a 300 percent increase in reported cases of sexual violence against women in the cyber world. This is a significant increase from 97 cases reported in 2018 to 281 cases in 2019.
"Komnas Perempuan has made a special note of this cyber [sexual violence], namely a 300 percent rise compared with previous years", said Komnas Perempuan Commissioner Mariana Amiruddin during an event titled "Komnas Perempuan Annual Report" in the Cikini area of Jakarta on Friday March 6.
This increase, said Amiruddin, is because women are most likely to become victims of intimidation through the dissemination of pornographic photographs and videos.
The worst thing, she said, is that perpetrators are usually people closest to them such as partners or people in their immediate environment.
"What is of note is the increase in cyber [sexual] violence as a new pattern this year where in fact the problem is that there is no legal protection or security on the internet particularly for women", said Amiruddin.
With regard to sexual violence against women in the community, many cases of cyber crime were also reported. This included online loans where women were intimidated or forced into paying debts through sexual harassment.
This starts from requests for payment through sexual services or asking victims to send pornographic photographs and videos which are then disseminated in order to force them to pay.
"Husbands who owe money are also asked to sell their wives to compensate for [unpaid] loans", she said.
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was "Komnas Perempuan: Kekerasan terhadap Perempuan Lewat Siber Naik 300 Persen".]