HAN 2023, The Importance Of Ensuring Child Protection From All Forms Of Violence

Illustration of Indonesian children in Gili Meno (Photo by Christoffer Zackrisson on Unsplash)

JAKARTA - In the commemoration of National Children's Day (HAN) which falls every July 23, it is important to create a safe environment for children. The government together with law enforcement and all elements of the nation ensure that children in Indonesia are free from all forms of violence.

However, it is very unfortunate that there are still many cases of violence involving children as victims. Starting from psychological to physical violence including sexual violence and domestic violence (KDRT).

"With the findings of cases involving children as victims, it explains that children are still in an unsafe environment," said the Speaker of the DPR, Puan Maharani, Monday, July 24.

Based on data from the Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection (KemenPPPA), 11,057 cases of violence against children were recorded in 2019. Then in 2020 221 cases increased to 11,278 cases.

Anal violence also increased significantly in 2021 to reach 14,517 cases. Even in 2022, the number is getting higher where violence against children reached 16,106 cases which are currently portraits in Indonesia.

"Tren peningkatan kasus kekerasan pada anak ini membuktikan bahwa masih ada yang kurang dalam sistem perlindungan terhadap anak di Indonesia," jelas Puan.

"Of course the system from the Government must be supported by the participation of the family and the community itself because support from the closest environment will provide security and comfort for children so that children are also free from violent terrors," said the former Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture.

In handling cases of sexual violence against children, Puan assessed that law enforcement is not enough just to use Law (UU) Number 35 of 2014 concerning Child Protection in ensnaring perpetrators. Because currently Indonesia already has Law Number 12 of 2022 concerning the Crime of Sexual Violence (TPKS).

"We now have the TPKS Law which can better protect children from cases of sexual violence. We all know that apart from women, many children become victims of sexual violence," said Puan.

Puan added that the TPKS Law is a specialist lex Law that can provide comprehensive protection for victims of sexual violence.

"Law enforcers must dare to use the TPKS Law when handling cases of sexual violence, including children. So once again we remind you, the Government must immediately issue technical rules so that the implementation of the TPKS Law is more effective," he continued.

Furthermore, Puan invites all levels of society to work together to create a safe environment for children. Starting from the family environment, the educational environment, and the community environment.

"At the commemoration of Children's Day, I invite parents, families, teachers, educators outside of school, and all other elements of society to also maintain children's mental health. Because violence does not only come physically, but also psychologically," said Puan.

Puan hopes that parents will increase literacy about children's growth and development. Not only physical growth and development, but also from a psychological development perspective.

"Because the mental trauma obtained by children can foster inner children or prolonged inner wounds that can have an impact on the progress of our children in the future," explained Puan.

The issue of children's mental health has not been much of a concern, even though it is very important in the growth and development of children as the flagship of the nation. Puan also encouraged the Government to cooperate with relevant stakeholders to strengthen socialization and education to the public regarding this matter.

"It should be remembered that children who are happy and live in a safe and healthy environment will have more confidence. That becomes one of the children's capital to grow into a golden generation as we expected," he said.

Puan realized that the State still has many challenges in creating a quality future generation. For this reason, she emphasized that the Draft Law on Maternal and Child Welfare (RUU KIA), which is a DPR Initiative Bill, is needed to support the improvement of the quality of Indonesian children, especially from underprivileged circles.

"To create a superior generation, parents must be assisted by the Government in seeking maximum growth and development in children. One of them is providing balanced nutrition for children ranging from pregnancy to the first 1,000 days after giving birth," said Puan.

Puan also hopes that the KIA Bill can be realized soon into law and get support from various parties, including industry circles. One of them is by providing an opportunity for working mothers to have room to carry out their role in providing the best care for children while carrying out their responsibilities as workers.

"Because mothers work to strengthen family financial stability which contributes to the progress of the country's economy and the figure of people's welfare," said Puan.

Pada peringatan HAN 2023, Puan juga mengingatkan tentang hak pendidikan bagi anak yang harus diberikan secara merata untuk semua anak Indonesia. Sebab menurut data UNICEF, sekitar 4,1 juta anak-anak di Indonesia yang berusia 7-18 tahun tidak mendapat pendidikan atau majalah pada tahun 2021.

This figure is still far from the target of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which targets no child not to attend school by 2030. Therefore, Puan encourages the Government to be supported by all elements of the nation to improve education programs and expand free education, especially for children from underprivileged families.

"All Indonesian children must be able to go to school. No one should not go to school because of cost barriers. It is very important that all Indonesian children have the same opportunity to get education," he said.