MPR Deputy Speaker Urges Strengthening of Protection System for Vulnerable Groups

Deputy Speaker of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) Lestari Moerdijat has urged the strengthening of the protection system for all citizens, particularly vulnerable groups, through the consistent implementation of regulations on the prevention and handling of sexual violence. In a statement in Jakarta on Sunday, Lestari Moerdijat emphasised that the implementation of the Sexual Violence Crime Law (UU TPKS) and Government Regulation Number 30 of 2025 must be carried out consistently, from law enforcement and victim recovery to community-based prevention. “We must ensure the implementation of the UU TPKS and PP 30/2025 runs consistently across all lines. Do not let perpetrators continue to run rampant and destroy the joints of our humanity,” she said. She also urged law enforcement officers to take firm action against the perpetrator of sexual violence against an elderly woman in Grobogan Regency, Central Java. “The case of sexual violence against an elderly person in Grobogan is clear evidence of the failure to protect the most vulnerable groups. The legal process for this case must be carried out to the maximum and provide a deterrent effect,” said the member of House of Representatives Commission X. The incident occurred on Monday night (29/6) and was discovered after the victim’s family returned home and caught the perpetrator. The victim, who was alone at the time, experienced violence and threats, leaving her helpless. Grobogan Police Chief AKP Sunarto stated that the perpetrator is charged under Article 473 paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code, which carries a maximum prison sentence of 12 years. Rerie, as Lestari is affectionately known, assessed that the case constitutes a crime against humanity reflecting moral and social decay, and therefore cannot be adequately resolved through law enforcement alone. According to her, the government and all stakeholders also need to identify the root of the problem so that a culture of violence can be prevented and the elderly receive better protection. Meanwhile, data from the National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) recorded 191 cases of violence against elderly women in 2023. A total of 100 cases occurred in the domestic sphere and involved people close to the victim. Lestari believes this figure likely does not reflect the actual situation, as many cases go unreported due to trauma, dependency, or the victim’s low trust in the legal system. She therefore urged the government to evaluate and strengthen the protection system for vulnerable groups to prevent similar cases from recurring.