Penerapan Keadilan Restoratif dalam Upaya Pemberantasan Tindak Pidana Kekerasan Seksual terhadap Anak Dibawah Umur di Kecamatan Medan Petisah

Abstract

Sexual violence against minors is a serious criminal offense that causes long-term impacts, both physically, psychologically, and socially. This study aims to analyze the effectiveness of restorative justice implementation in efforts to eradicate sexual crimes against children in Medan Petisah District. The approach used is normative juridical, supported by empirical data obtained through interviews and document analysis. The findings indicate that the application of restorative justice in the context of child sexual abuse still presents significant dilemmas. This approach facilitates emotional recovery for victims and enables conflict resolution outside formal court proceedings. However, the severity of criminal sanctions and prevailing social stigma hinder the implementation of diversion as regulated in Law No. 11 of 2012 on the Juvenile Criminal Justice System (SPPA). The challenges in Medan Petisah include limited understanding among law enforcement officers, public resistance, and insufficient child protection facilities. The study also found that, in practice, restorative justice is often implemented through limited mediation, without any guarantee of optimal recovery for victims of sexual violence in the district. Strong synergy among law enforcement, the community, and child protection institutions is urgently needed to implement restorative justice selectively and responsibly, particularly by ensuring the protection of victims' rights. The formulation of measurable implementation policies and enhancement of human resource capacity are critical to ensuring the success of this approach. An inclusive, transparent, and child-oriented legal enforcement system should become the main priority. The long-term goal is to establish a justice system that not only punishes but also heals holistically. A humanistic approach that does not overlook legal principles and child protection remains a central focus of this study.