<![CDATA[Child sexual violence is an extraordinary crime that inflicts long-lasting physical, psychological, and social impacts. This phenomenon is a social pathology indicating the dysfunctionality of the child protection system in Indonesia. This study aims to analyze socio-legally the disparity between the legal norms protecting child victims of sexual violence and the reality of their enforcement in society. The method used is normative-empirical legal research with a socio-legal approach, utilizing statutory, conceptual, and sociological approaches. The results show that de jure, Indonesia possesses a progressive legal framework, namely Law Number 23 of 2002 as amended by Law Number 35 of 2014 on Child Protection, Law Number 12 of 2022 on Crimes of Sexual Violence (UU TPKS), and Law Number 11 of 2012 on the Juvenile Criminal Justice System. However, de facto, its implementation suffers from structural ineffectiveness. The determinant sociological factors acting as barriers include: the hegemony of patriarchal culture fostering victim blaming, stigmatization and stereotypes toward victims, low legal awareness and courage to report, as well as secondary victimization practices by law enforcement officers and the community. Therefore, a paradigm reconstruction is required from a retributive-punitive approach toward a restorative-rehabilitative approach oriented toward victim recovery, prioritizing the principle of the best interest of the child.]]>
