Legal Protection of Children with Disabilities Who Are Victims of Sexual Abuse at the Medan City DP3APMP2KB

This study aims to analyze comprehensively the legal protection of children with disabilities who are victims of sexual abuse in Medan. Children with disabilities are a group particularly vulnerable to sexual abuse because of physical, intellectual, mental, and other impairments. National statutes reinforce child protection, namely Law No. 35 of 2014 on Child Protection, as amended by Law No. 17 of 2016, Law No. 8 of 2016 on Persons with Disabilities, and Law No. 12 of 2022 on Sexual Violence Crimes (the TPKS Law), together with Medan City Regional Regulation No. 2 of 2024 on the Protection of Persons with Disabilities and the Elderly. The study uses an empirical juridical method with a statute approach and a field study at the Medan City Office of Women's Empowerment, Child Protection, Community Empowerment, Population Control, and Family Planning (DP3APMP2KB). The results show that the main problems in law enforcement are the lack of reasonable accommodation for children with disabilities and the shortage of expert companions and certified sign language interpreters. The DP3APMP2KB plays an important role in providing legal and psychosocial assistance, but the absence of integrated cross-sector standard operating procedures makes its work less effective. To ensure justice, the recovery of victims' rights, and the prevention of sexual crimes against children with disabilities, the implementation of Medan City Regional Regulation No. 2 of 2024 should therefore be optimized.