PPPA Minister Ensures Support for Sexual Violence Victim in Sampang

Minister of Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection (PPPA) Arifah Fauzi has ensured that a 15-year-old female victim of sexual violence in Sampang Regency, East Java, will receive support throughout the legal process and her recovery. “The state must not allow children to face violence alone. The PPPA Ministry ensures that every victim receives comprehensive protection, legal assistance, psychological services, and other support,” the Minister said on Monday. To guarantee the fulfilment of the victim’s rights, the PPPA Ministry has coordinated with the East Java Provincial Government, the Sampang Regency Government, the Regional Technical Implementation Unit for the Protection of Women and Children (UPTD PPA), law enforcement officials, and various related service agencies. This coordination aims to ensure the availability of health services, ongoing psychosocial support, legal aid, and the strengthening of child protection systems. The PPPA Ministry also urged the public not to disseminate the victim’s identity or construct narratives that blame the victim. Protecting the child’s privacy is considered a crucial part of supporting the legal process and the victim’s recovery. Meanwhile, legal proceedings against the perpetrators are ongoing. Police have named 27 individuals as suspects; 12 have been detained, while 15 remain on the wanted list. Minister Arifah expressed appreciation for the swift action of law enforcement in investigating the case and hopes all perpetrators will be apprehended promptly so the legal process can be completed thoroughly. She stressed that sexual violence against children can cause long-term psychological impacts, including trauma, anxiety, fear, loss of security, and disruptions to social and emotional development. Therefore, recovery requires not only legal justice but also psychological support, a safe family environment, and continuous rehabilitation.