Can Victims of Child Grooming Report Abuse in Adulthood?

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesian Actress Aurelie Moeremans has uploaded a book titled Broken Strings. The book contains memoirs of her past life. In the book, Aurelie recounts her experience of being in a toxic relationship with an older man when she was just 15 years old.

The book has sparked much discussion on social media. Many people have suggested that Aurelie was a victim of child grooming during her teenage years. This is because in the book, Aurelie describes being emotionally manipulated and controlled by her then partner. This phenomenon has attracted significant attention in the online community, as many victims of child grooming only realize the manipulation they endured after reaching adulthood.

The General Chairperson of the National Commission on Violence against Women (Komnas Perempuan), Maria Ulfah Anshor, stated that child grooming, as described by Aurelie in her book, falls within the category of sexual violence.

Even though these events occurred in the past, Ulfah mentions that victims of child grooming who realize in adulthood can still report the incidents to the police. "There is no statute of limitations in cases of sexual violence," she said when contacted by Tempo on Tuesday, January 13, 2026.

Ulfah explains that after filing a report with the police, victims can request protection from the Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK). She emphasizes that seeking protection from LPSK is crucial to shield victims from potential counter-criminalization and intimidation by the perpetrators. This is because victims of sexual violence are vulnerable to being counter-criminalized with accusations of defamation.

"Counter-criminalization often becomes a tactic for perpetrators; when they are reported, they will make counter reports accusing the victim of defamation," she added.

Ulfah also recommends that victims of child grooming reach out to organizations that handle cases of violence against women. Additionally, reports can be submitted to her institution, Komnas Perempuan. After filing the report with the commission, the institution can monitor the police's progress on the case and ensure that it is being handled properly.

"Victims can report at the complaint link https://bit.ly/AduanKomnasPerempuan so that we can monitor the process," she stated.

Read: Sexual Violence Risks Loom for Women in Disaster Evacuation Camps

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