LPSK Encourages Cross-Sector Collaboration to Accelerate Recovery for Sexual Violence Victims

The Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK) is encouraging stronger cross-sector collaboration between ministries, local governments, the business sector, and the public to strengthen the implementation of the Victim Assistance Fund (DBK) as an effort to accelerate the recovery of victims of sexual violence crimes.

LPSK Junior Legal Analyst Sandra Anggita stated that the DBK is a new programme mandated by Law Number 12 of 2022 concerning Sexual Violence Crimes as a form of state presence when victims have not obtained optimal recovery through the restitution mechanism.

Victims of sexual violence crimes are entitled to the Victim Assistance Fund. Many perpetrators of sexual violence do not have the financial capability, so the state is present through the Victim Assistance Fund, Sandra said during a discussion on the utilisation of DBK and the role of the media in supporting the recovery of sexual violence victims in Jakarta on Friday.

She explained that the DBK is sourced from the State Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBN), philanthropy, the public, corporate social responsibility (CSR), and other legitimate sources as regulated in Government Regulation Number 29 of 2025.

According to her, the programme has two main schemes: underpaid restitution and recovery funding.

Sandra explained that underpaid restitution is provided when the perpetrator is unable to pay the full amount of restitution decided by the court. For example, if the restitution ruling is Rp100 million, but the perpetrator’s economic capability is only Rp20 million, this difference is accommodated through underpaid restitution.

Meanwhile, recovery funding is intended to support medical, psychological, and other recovery needs that have not been met by ministries, agencies, or local governments. Before providing the funding, checks are conducted to ensure the victim has not already received similar services from other ministries, agencies, or local governments, so that the assistance is not duplicated but truly optimised.

Sandra acknowledged that the main challenge in implementing the DBK is increasing participation from companies and the public in supporting funding through CSR programmes and philanthropy. She noted that there is still a perception that contributing to the DBK is akin to helping the perpetrator pay restitution, whereas the programme’s primary goal is to ensure the victim’s comprehensive recovery. The objective is not that, but to restore the victim’s condition. Criminal acts are no longer solely oriented towards punishing the perpetrator, but also towards recovering the victim.

She added that transparency and accountability in fund management are crucial aspects for increasing public and business participation.