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	Indonesia has toughened its punishments for child rapists to include the death penalty and chemical castration.</p>
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	It follows outrage over several recent violent crimes, including the gang-rape and murder of a 14-year-old girl.</p>
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	President Joko Widodo said the regulation was &quot;intended to overcome the crisis caused by sexual violence against children&quot;.</p>
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	Previously, the maximum sentence for rape, of either an adult or a child, was 14 years in jail.</p>
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	People jailed for sexual offences against children may also now be made to wear electronic monitoring devices after their release.</p>
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	Analysis: Rebecca Henschke, BBC News, Indonesian service editor</p>
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	The gang rape of 14-year-old Yuyun on her way home from school and the rape and brutal murder of a 18-year-old factory worker this month have sparked national outrage.</p>
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	In polls and on social media there is widespread support for tougher punishments including castration and the death penalty for perpetrators, particularly when children are the victims.</p>
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	But a number of leading rights activists have voiced their dissent.</p>
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	Mariana Aminudi from the National Commission on Violence Against Women said on Twitter: &quot;The castration law is evidence that the government does not view sexual assaults as act of violence but merely as a matter of controlling sexual urges.&quot;</p>
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	While Sandra Moniaga from the National Commission on Human Rights wrote: &quot;Violence will not be stopped by violent punishments.&quot;</p>
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	Introduced by emergency presidential decree, the new rules are in effect immediately but could be overturned by parliament at a later date.</p>
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	&quot;An extraordinary crime deserves an exceptional response&quot;, Mr Widodo said.</p>
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	(Published by BBC.com on the 26/05/2016)</p>
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	<a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-36385909">http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-36385909</a></p>
