Perlindungan Hukum Terhadap Anak Sebagai Korban Kekerasan Seksual di Dunia Maya

Abstract

Advances in information and communication technology have made it easier for children to access the internet, but at the same time, they have also opened up opportunities for increased risks of sexual violence in digital spaces, such as child grooming practices and brazen sexual exploitation. Children, as a vulnerable group, are often the targets of these crimes due to limited understanding, lack of supervision, and suboptimal self-control. This study aims to examine legal protection for children as victims of sexual violence in cyberspace and to identify obstacles faced in handling these cases. This study was compiled using a normative legal research model that focuses on examining legal norms stipulated in various laws and regulations. Legal sources were collected through literature searches and relevant legal documents, then processed and described using qualitative analysis techniques with a descriptive presentation pattern. Research result indicate that legal protection for child victims of sexual violence in cyberspace has been regulated in several regulations, such as the Child Protection Law, the Electronic Information and Transactions Law, and the Law on Criminal Acts of Sexual Violence. However, its implementation has not been optimal due to persistent obstacles such as the lack of specific regulations regarding child care, the complexity of digital evidence, the limited capabilities of law enforcement officers, and low public awareness. Therefore, regulatory strengthening, capacity building of law enforcement officers, and active community involvement in preventing and addressing sexual violence against children in the digital space are needed.