Jakarta, IO – Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection (PPPA) Minister Bintang Puspayoga said that repeated incidents of sexual violence in pesantren (Islamic boarding schools) should be an alarm for the local governments and the immediate environment around the pesantren.
The minister’s statement was made in response to cases of sexual abuse of six students at a boarding school in Banyuwangi, East Java. She emphasized that the supervision in each pesantren must be tightened.
“There must be no more teachers who abuse children physically and mentally. All educational institutions are responsible for protecting their students and fulfilling the rights of every child for a safe and comfortable learning process,” Bintang told Antara on Tuesday (28/6).
She admitted that she deeply regretted every woeful incident that happened to women and children, especially in the boarding school environment. She hopes the victims will not suffer from negative stigma from society. She encourages the victims’ immediate environment to always support the trauma recovery so they are able to socialize with their friends again.