Strengthening The Human Rights Protection Framework for Women Victims of Sexual Exploitation

Abstract

Sexual exploitation of women is one of the most degrading forms of Human Rights (HR) violations and threatens the values of humanity in the modern era. Although international and national legal instruments have developed significantly to provide protection, women who become victims of this crime often remain in an extremely marginalized position. This practice of exploitation not only strips victims of their freedom and bodily autonomy but also traps them in prolonged cycles of physical, psychological, and economic violence. This article specifically examines the urgency of strengthening the human rights protection framework for women survivors of sexual exploitation by highlighting the structural gap between regulations enacted by the state and the reality of law enforcement, which continues to be marked by gender bias and social stigma. This study employs a normative juridical method by analyzing various laws and regulations, including Law Number 12 of 2022 concerning Sexual Violence Crimes (UU TPKS) and Law Number 21 of 2007 concerning the Crime of Human Trafficking (UU TPPO). Through a literature review and conceptual analysis, this research uncovers various systemic barriers that often prevent the victim protection framework from being effectively implemented. As a proposed solution, this study recommends a paradigm shift from justice that merely focuses on punishing perpetrators (retributive justice) toward justice centered on victim recovery (restorative justice). Strengthening this protection framework should be realized through the establishment of a Victim Trust Fund to guarantee the right to restitution, enhancing the capacity of law enforcement officials through gender-sensitive training, and implementing massive public education campaigns to eliminate the culture of victim-blaming. Ultimately, the state must fully assume its responsibility to ensure that human rights protection for women victims of sexual exploitation is not merely eloquent in the text of legislation but is genuinely realized through justice and the restoration of human dignity within society. Strengthening The Human Rights ……………………. (Indra Soesetiawan) 1 LICS 2026 Topic: Strengthening Legal Frameworks for Combating Human Trafficking and Enhancing Protection of Women and Children