JAKARTA - The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, highlighted the high number of smokers among teenagers which could pose a threat to the future of the nation's future. The DPR encourages reforms in tobacco control and child protection.
According to Puan, the state must be present to protect Indonesia's young generation.
"When children and adolescents have become targets of the cigarette industry market, it means we are losing control of the future. The state must not remain silent," said Puan Maharani, Monday, June 30.
As is known, the number of smokers among junior high and high school students is increasing. One of them occurred in Kulon Progo Regency, Yogyakarta Special Region, where the increase in teenage smokers continued to increase until it was relatively worrying.
From the results of screening for 3,841 students spread across 21 Puskesmas under the auspices of the Kulon Progo Health Office which was carried out in December 2024, as many as 466 students are known to have started smoking.
Kulon Progo Health Office confirmed that 12.13 percent of teenagers in the area had smoked. This is a concern because the trend of increasing teenagers who become smokers is getting higher.
Related to this, Puan emphasized that the protection of children and adolescents is the constitutional responsibility of the state. He also reminded that Indonesia has signed various international agreements related to children's rights.
"And that commitment must be realized in real policies, not only in the slogan level," said Puan.
The former Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture underlined the high prevalence of teenage smokers as a reflection of the still weak supervision of cigarette circulation. Including, said Puan, the lax factor in advertising and promotional regulations, as well as the lack of maximum education about the dangers of smoking in the school and family environment.
"It's not just a matter of smoking. It's about the child's right to a healthy environment and a decent future," he said.
"If we ignore it now, we are letting our children grow in an addictive culture that will have a negative impact on national health and the quality of human resources," continued Puan.
Puan also highlighted the social and economic impacts of cigarettes on vulnerable families. Based on BPS data, cigarettes are the second largest expenditure in the household after rice.
"This means that cigarettes not only erode children's health, but also reduce the allocation of household budgets for nutrition, education, and other basic needs," he explained.
Therefore, Puan stated that the DPR would encourage comprehensive regulatory reform in child protection and tobacco control.
He also asked the government to integrate the anti-smoking curriculum in schools and Islamic boarding schools and regulate cigarette displays (tire display) so as not to attract children's attention.
"We need to accelerate the discussion and ratification of regulations that favor children's health," he said.
He also called for the government to limit cigarette advertisements, promotions, and sponsors in public and digital spaces.
"Strict supervision of the sale of cigarettes to minors. Especially in locations close to the educational environment," said Puan.
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