Against Child Predators

KOMPAS/ABDULLAH FIKRI ASHRI

Siti Nuryan

The threat of the COVID-19 pandemic has not stopped Siti Nuryani, 45, from visiting the homes of victims of sexual violence in Cirebon regency, West Java. For her, child predators are no less vicious than the new coronavirus that causes COVID-19.

In June 2020, when COVID-19 cases continued to increase, Siti Nuryani, who is usually called Yani, was determined to pick up a child victim of sexual violence in Ciwaringin district. The victim was a student aged 17 years old and two months’ pregnant. She is suspected of having been impregnated by her ex-boyfriend.

A month earlier, Yani visited a 20-year-old woman from Weru, a victim of sexual violence who was eight months’ pregnant. "She had been raped by her elder brother since the age of 15," said Yani, Monday (24/8/2020).

How come the perpetrator of sexual violence is usually a person who has a close relationship with the victim?

The two of them are now in a safe house in Sumber district, which is also where Yani lives. One of the three rooms is reserved for victims of sexual violence. There, the chairperson of the Child Protection Institute (LPA) of Cirebon regency accompanied and cared for the victim.

Yani has assisted dozens of similar cases. She is accustomed to setting aside her salary from teaching for the safe house’s needs or helps the delivery of women victims of sexual violence. She also often bought medicines for the victims. "Look at my bank account book, my savings have run out. I spend it for my provision in the akhirat [afterlife],” said the teacher of vocational high school SMK Caruban Nagari Cirebon.

Intensive assistance is needed to get rid of the trauma of the victims of sexual violence while awaiting trial for their cases. How come the perpetrator of sexual violence is usually a person who has a close relationship with the victim? Instead of receiving sympathy, the victims are often ridiculed as incapable of taking care of themselves, being accused of wearing revealing dress, for example.

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KOMPAS/ABDULLAH FIKRI ASHRI

Siti Nuryani

Given this situation Yani was not afraid to visit the victim to provide support even in the middle of the pandemic. "The important thing is to wear a face mask, be diligent in washing your hands and keep your distance," said Yani, who is also a volunteer for the Task Force for the Acceleration of Handling COVID-19 in Cirebon.

When the COVID-19 pandemic began to spread in March and April 2020, she stopped visiting the victims\' homes. She and other volunteers were also no longer go around the villages to share information related to parenting and also to recognize the characteristics of victims of sexual violence. The pandemic cannot stop them.

"It’s importance to recognize the signs of victims of sexual violence, such as [the person] spends longer time alone, being afraid to go to the bathroom or feeling pain when their vital parts are touched," said Yani.

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When she stopped visiting the community, it turned out another case of sexual violence happened with a victim, a 5-year-old child, in Ciwaringin in May 2020. The perpetrator was a neighbor. Unfortunately, the mother only realized that her child had become a victim of a sexual predator the day after the incident.

As of July 2020, the Cirebon Police Women and Children Protection Unit (PPA) has recorded around 40 cases of violence against children and women. More than half of them were cases of fornication or rape. Last year, the PPA recorded 53 cases of sexual abuse or rape in Cirebon.

Given these figures, the fight against sexual violence in Cirebon must not stop despite the pandemic. Moreover, Cirebon was declared a Child Friendly City in 2018.

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KOMPAS/ABDULLAH FIKRI ASHRI

Siti Nuryani, Ketua Lembaga Perlindungan Anak Kabupaten Cirebon, saat ditemui pertengahan Juni 2020 lalu.

Helping is a hobby

Yani has been involved in assisting child victims of violence since 2012. At that time, she often went to Jakarta to participate in LPA activities. She met child protection activists, such as Arist Merdeka Sirait and Seto Mulyadi. "I was inspired by my late father, whose hobby is helping people," said Yani.

Her father used to be the head of the community unit (RW) and was an employee at the Sumber district administration office. He was diligent in participating in social activities and helping people who were sick. Now, Yani is taking a quiet route to assist children and women victims of sexual violence. Not infrequently she sheds tears, such as when she found out a 4-year-old child and a 20-year-old-woman became victims of sexual violence committed by their uncle. She is furious when people who claim to be journalists reveal the identities of victims, even publishing pictures of them on their media.

I challenge the kidnapper to show up and meet [me]. As it turned out, the person was scared and the girl was released at 3 a.m.

Her life choice is often not in line with that of others. She was once reported to the police for being accused of taking custody of someone else\'s child. In fact, she was accompanying the victim. In addition, she has had arguments on social media with an individual who kidnapped a girl for two weeks after the two became acquainted on social media.

"I challenge the kidnapper to show up and meet [me]. As it turned out, the person was scared and the girl was released at 3 a.m. The child is now undergoing education at a boarding school with three other victims of sexual violence that I have accompanied," she said.

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Yani said that she was sincere in everything she did. Her husband, Irlandriyanto, who works at an event organizer, supports her. Now, Yani is also assisted by a number of cadets and students of the Muhammadiyah University of Cireon (UMC) to prevent cases of child abuse.

"I am tired due to many thoughts. There’re many cases, but many [people] don\'t care. Sometimes I think of stopping. But then who would continue it?" Yani said.

Yani\'s journey against the child predators may not end anytime soon. As long as information regarding children’s vulnerability is very low, the potential for children to become victims is still there.

Siti Nuryani

Born: Cirebon, 3 August 1975

Husband: Irlandriyanto

Education:

- SDN 1 Sumber (graduated 1989) - SMPN 1 Sumber (1992)

- Nurul Iman Islamic boarding school, Central Java (1995)

- Package C at PKBM Nurdjati Sumber

(2008)

- Undergraduate in Faculty of Teaching and Education at UMC focusing on pre-school education

(2013)

Activity: Teacher at vocational high school SMK Caruban Nagari Dukupuntang Cirebon.