Participating in Prevention of Violence Against Children, FK UII Holds Seminar

Group photo of KtA Seminar participants

Yogyakarta (27/08) — Children and youth are one of the nation's most important assets. Healthy and intelligent children and youth will become quality human resources that are very important for the country's development. All parties, both families and communities, have their respective roles to make this happen. But unfortunately, the development of children and adolescents in Indonesia is hampered by the rampant acts of violence today.

Responding to the problem of violence against children (KtA), Department of Pediatrics (IKA) Faculty of Medicine Universitas Islam Indonesia (FK UII) held a KtA seminar which was expected to help related parties to better understand and, in the end, be able to prevent and detect early KtA cases on Saturday (27/08). This seminar was held offline at the Public Lecture Building, Prof. Sardjito, UII Integrated Campus.

The first guest speaker, dr. Mei Neni Sitaresmi, Ph.D, Sp.A(K) presented the topic of preventing sexual violence in children and adolescents. dr. Mei Neni explained that Sexual Violence against Children (KSA) is divided into 3 types, namely: (1) non-contact sexual harassment such as threats of sexual harassment, indecent exposure, or exposing children to pornography, (2) contact sexual harassment involving sexual intercourse , (3) contact does not include sexual intercourse but involves other acts such as inappropriate touching. "KSA is an iceberg phenomenon, 30-70% of KSA is not reported because they are embarrassed, afraid, threatened, do not understand, or are confused," continued dr. May Neni.

dr. Mei Neni Sitaresmi, Ph.D, Sp.A(K) when presenting the material

Furthermore, the topic of recognizing sexual violence online (online child sexual abuse) delivered by Irving Vitra, ST, M.Sc.IT, Ph.D.
"Today's kids, if you don't hold a gadget for a day, it's already stressful," said Irving. Research shows that it is the children themselves who knowingly spread sexual deviance, the most difficult of which is related to live streaming like Tiktok. The results of the latest survey published in July 2022 from UNICEF, Interpol and ECPAT (Indonesian branch of the International Child Protection Commission) show that online child sexual exploitation and abuse in Indonesia is more than 56%.

Meanwhile, the clinical aspects due to sexual violence were discussed by the third resource person, dr. Yasmini Fitriyati, Sp.OG. At the beginning of the presentation, dr. Yasmini highlighted the case of sexual violence against a junior high school girl in Tayu who was held captive for 4 months and used as a sex slave until her vital organs were damaged. "Sexual violence against children has a long-term impact on the reproductive organs themselves, besides that it also has an impact on victims, namely depression," he explained.

dr. Yasmini added, where did the problem with the perpetrator come from? Is blaming the wrong association? Did you get incorrect information? From the perpetrators being able to commit crimes like that actually from outside influences or from the internal growth of the perpetrators there are actually problems. Research related to this has not been disclosed much, but existing research is related to the development of children's health conditions until they become adults. For example, when pregnant there are health problems, the baby born in the future can have health problems such as heart problems, metabolic disorders, or blood pressure.

Irving Vitra, ST, M.Sc.IT, Ph.D., Mira Aliza Rachmawati, S.Psi., M.Psi., and dr. Yasmini Fitriyati, Sp.OG. when presenting material

Furthermore, the topic of the psychological impact of sexual violence on children is discussed by Mira Aliza Rachmawati, S.Psi., M.Psi. According to him, almost every day we hear about sexual violence against children. The facts of violence against children in Indonesia according to a national survey of children's and adolescents' life experiences, the Ministry of Women and Children's Empowerment in 2018 found 1 out of 11 girls experienced sexual violence and 1 out of 17 boys experienced sexual violence.

The impact of sexual abuse on children is characterized by a wide variety, from short-term effects to lasting effects into adulthood. Many of the symptoms are associated with child sexual abuse survivors such as low self-esteem, anxiety, hostility, depression, hyperactivity, and general psychosomatic disorders to a variety of other problems. “The worst thing is that he will experience depression, commit negative actions, one of which is suicide. For that, what we can do is we must be aware of the condition of our children, "said Mira Aliza.

Photo with the seminar implementation team. (Jo)