The government of Indonesia are planning to use chemical castration as additional punishment for child sex offenders. According to Cabinet Secretariat, the president has expressed approval for the law which provides chemical castration for convicted pedophiles.
Many people have welcomed the development, saying it will go a long way at checking the occurrence of the act. Child rights activists hailed the news as landmark, saying the development came at the right time when Indonesia is facing child abuse emergency.
Arist Sirait, chairman of National Commission on Child Protection expressed satisfaction with the move, the government are in the right direction towards providing help to children who suffer abuse.
Social Affairs Minister, Khofifah Indar Parawansa said the president supported castration as a form of punishment in addition to jail terms for child sex offenders. She added that the president planned to issue regulation containing such provisions.
Attorney General Muhammad Prasetyo, added his voice by saying the chemical castration could involve injecting female hormone to reduce the sex drive of the offender.
Indonesia has witnessed an increase in the number of child abuse since 2011.
Under the 2002 Child Protection Law, child sex offences are punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a maximum fine of 300 million rupia (21,800 dollars).
