Indonesian Human Rights Commission Receives Complaint of Sexual Violence at Palm Oil Company

Indonesia's National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has received a complaint alleging sexual violence against a deaf-mute worker at PT USU, a palm oil company in Mandailing Natal, North Sumatra. The victim, a daily hired laborer (BHL), reported the incident to the police in November 2025, but the case has seen no significant development over the past seven months.

Komnas HAM Chairperson Anis Hidayah stated that the victim has approached various authorities, including the local police (Polres Mandailing Natal), the company, and the local Women's Empowerment office. However, the slow pace of the legal proceedings suggests a "delay in justice" that negatively impacts the victim's pursuit of fairness.

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Meaning, it has been going on for seven months. So it was conveyed that a reporting process has been carried out to various parties, to the local police, to the company, to the local Women's Office. Well, the legal process is proceeding quite slowly, so there is an indication of a delay in justice that impacts justice for the victim.

According to Hidayah, the company has not provided a safe house or psychological services for the victim. Furthermore, the victim and their family, who still work at PT USU, have allegedly faced intimidation. The victim was reportedly terminated from their job after speaking out, despite having an informal employment relationship without a formal contract, and has not received their due rights.

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Even the victim experienced termination of employment, even though their employment relationship has been informal all along, meaning informally, there was no work contract. Well, after the victim dared to speak out, they were dismissed and did not receive their rights.