Despite the outcry from rights activists, the House of Representatives has passed a regulation in lieu of law (Perppu) on child protection that allows for sex offenders to be subjected to chemical castration.

Lawmakers engaged in a heated debate at the plenary meeting on Wednesday. From the 10 political parties at the House, only the Gerindra Party and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) initially refused but then agreed to join the majority in passing the regulation, with several notes.

PKS lawmaker Ledia Hanifa said the government had yet to include the House's input into the regulation, which had initially been scheduled to be passed in August. It had yet to deliberate details on the chemical castration penalty, as requested by lawmakers.

"The Perppu still lacks concern for the victims, as it only focuses on punishing the perpetrators but neglects to provide compensation, restitution and rehabilitation for victims and their families," Ledia said.

Rahayau Saraswati from Gerindra said the faction still firmly rejected the Perppu, as it had yet to produce a comprehensive solution to protect children from sexual predators. Yet Gerindra agreed to pass it as long as the House would push for further revision of the 2002 Law on Child Protection.

The Perppu, which comes after several prominent cases of sexual violence against children in the country, focuses on capital punishment and chemical castration. It has sparked local and international criticism, given Indonesia’s already worrying human rights record. Rights activists have repeatedly slammed the bill, saying it focuses on punishing offenders without showing adequate concern for victims. (rin)