LPSK prepares comprehensive recovery for Bandung abuse victim

The Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK) is preparing comprehensive protection and recovery programmes for a 29-year-old abuse victim in Bandung, West Java, through medical, psychological, and psychosocial services as part of fulfilling the victim’s rights. LPSK Chairman Achmadi said the agency had assigned a team to Bandung since the initial handling of the case and issued a guarantee letter to the hospital to cover the victim’s medical expenses. “LPSK has first provided a guarantee letter to the hospital regarding financing. This is where the state is present to provide medical assistance or medical rehabilitation programmes,” he said during the commemoration of International Day Against Torture, observed online in Jakarta on Friday. He said the LPSK team remains in Bandung to coordinate with various parties. To date, five requests for protection have been received, both from the victim’s family and other parties. According to Achmadi, the victim’s recovery does not only include medical services but also psychological and psychosocial services as stipulated in the Law on the Protection of Witnesses and Victims. “The recovery programme can be medical, psychological, or psychosocial. Psychosocial refers to the sustainability of life skills, or psychological and social intervention efforts for the sustainability of the person’s abilities,” he said. He added that LPSK will continue to collaborate with various stakeholders to ensure all the victim’s rights are fulfilled during the legal process. Meanwhile, National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) Chairperson Anis Hidayah stated her institution supports Komnas Perempuan and LPSK in overseeing the handling of the case. She said the victim has the right to feel safe and be protected from all forms of violence. “Komnas HAM certainly urges that this law enforcement process be carried out professionally, accountably, and transparently so that the perpetrator receives a punishment commensurate with the applicable laws and regulations,” she said. Anis assessed that the victim’s recovery must be carried out comprehensively, including medical treatment for the severe injuries suffered, psychological services, and support for the reintegration process with family and society. “What needs to be considered is precisely the long-term recovery,” she said. According to Komnas HAM, long-term recovery is important considering the impact of severe abuse has the potential to cause prolonged trauma and affect the victim’s quality of life in the future.