Indonesia approves regulation to chemically castrate paedophiles. How effective will it be?

Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo recently signed off on chemically castrating and naming perpetrators of sexual violence against children.

It was announced this week Mr Widodo approved the law in December to “provide a deterrent effect on perpetrators, and prevent sexual violence against children”, according to a press release from the Indonesian Cabinet.

The idea was first proposed and ratified by the Parliament in 2016. The Indonesian Doctors Association said at the time medical practitioners could not castrate people ethically without proper guidelines.

Under the new law, those who inflict or threaten sexual violence against children — defined as those under the age of 18 — will be required to undergo chemical castration…