Legal Protection of Child Victims of Religious Leader Sexual Violence (Community Protection and Punishment)

Sexual violence constitutes a worldwide concern that jeopardizes individual security and integrity while eroding the social and moral fabric of society. When perpetrated by religious leaders, the issue becomes more intricate due to the exploitation of power, trust, and elevated social status. These leaders, expected to serve as moral exemplars, become offenders of crimes that infringe upon human rights. Legislators have established many laws and regulations, with the provisions controlling sexual violence delineated in Law Number 12 of 2022. However, there are still many cases of sexual violence against children both in the education environment and in society in Indonesia, especially those that occur in the Aru Maluku Islands Regency. The problem encountered is why there is an inequality in criminal law enforcement against children as victims of sexual violence committed by religious leaders?. This research aims to analyze the legal protection of victims of sexual violence committed by religious leaders. The research findings indicate a necessity for legal and policy reform, emphasizing that sanctions imposed on perpetrators of sexual violence who are religious leaders must be stringent to prevent the perception of legal immunity due to their religious status. So it is recommended that the government revise the law to remove legal immunity for religious leaders.