Under a new law, Indonesia will plant microchips on all its convicted child rapists so that they can be monitored at all times. It will also impose chemical castration for convicted paedophiles and child rapists.
The move comes after the brutal murder and gang rape of a 14-year-old girl in Sumatra in April. The case led activists to call for harsher punishments for sex attackers and sparked nationwide protests.
Asrorun Niam Sholeh, Head of child rights group the National Commission for Child Protection who is actively involved in drafting the new law said:
The microchip will be fitted before the criminals are released from prison, and is needed to monitor and locate them after they are freed.The decree could be signed in the coming days. Chemical castration and heavier jail terms for child rapists are also among new measures that could be introduced.
The existing Child Protection Law in Indonesia has a maximum 15-year term of imprisonment for rapists.
However, several rights activists voiced concern over the measures to be introduced under the new law. Lathiefah Widuri Retyaningtyas, an activist from the Perempuan Mahardhika group said:
Even in countries where chemical castration has been implemented, questions have been raised about whether or not it works as a deterrent. Castration is not a solution. We believe that it will extend the chain of sexual abuse because it is also a form of sexual torture.
