The much maligned President, Joko Widodo, on Wednesday made Indonesia the first Southeast Asian country to use chemical castration on sex offenders, following in the footsteps of Russia, Poland, South Korea and some of the United States.

The ruthless legislation, which had previously faced opposition in the country, passed swiftly following the recent brutal gang rape and murder of 14-year-old Yuyun in Sumatra.

Three days after her death, Yuyun’s battered body was found, naked and tied-up in nearby woods. Seven teenagers have already been jailed for their role in the crime, while five others are yet to be sentenced.

70-year old Australian man, Robert Fiddes Ellis, is currently on trial for the alleged sexual abuse of at least 11 girls between the ages of 8-17 in Bali and while he is expected to be sentenced to 16-years in prison, he will be spared execution as the new laws are not retrospective.

Repeat offenders or those convicted of sexually abusing family members face a minimum of 10 years in prison and a maximum sentence of 20 years, however it is up to the discretion of the court if they are to be chemically castrated.

Human rights groups and doctors from around the world have condemned the President Widodo's reform, labelling the practice of castration as "barbaric".

Azriana of the National Commission for Women told the BBC that chemical castration as a “a very expensive procedure and what we should be spending and investing our money in is services to support and help the victims.”

The Indonesian Doctors Association echoed Azriana’s sentiment, barring its members from administering the intense practice.

“Numerous studies have shown that castration is not an effective deterrent, because sex crimes are not caused by hormonal impulses but by behavioural disorders,” chairman Daeng Muhammad Faqih said.

“It would be unethical for doctors to be the ones executing the sentences. A doctor’s job is to save lives.”

(Yahoo News)