Ahead Of National Children's Day Commemoration, DPR Reminds Government To Protect Children From Sexual Predators

Photo by MI PHAM on Unsplash

JAKARTA - Ahead of National Children's Day on July 23, the House of Representatives has warned the State to ensure that children's rights are properly fulfilled. The government must ensure the protection of children from the practices of sexual violence that are rampant.

"In Commemoration of National Children's Day, we encourage the Government to increase protection for children through policies and laws and regulations," said Deputy Chair of Commission VIII of the DPR, Diah Pitaloka, Wednesday, July 20.

Diah said, during the pandemic, Indonesian children faced many challenges that were not easy. Starting from health problems, psychosocial, to education.

"Including the issue of sexual violence, both within educational institutions, and in the social environment which requires a lot of attention from all parties," Diah said in an official parliament statement.

Referring to data from the Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection (PPPA), there were at least 11,952 cases of child violence recorded by the Online Information System for the Protection of Women and Children (Symphony) throughout 2021.

Diah asked the government to pay more attention to the high rate of sexual violence against children.

“The DPR has passed Law Number 12 of 2022 concerning the Crime of Sexual Violence (TPKS), which is the hope of many parties. We appreciate the government's commitment to speeding up the issuance of derivative regulations of the TPKS Law in order to facilitate the prevention and handling of cases of sexual violence, especially for children and women," he explained.

Diah said the high rate of sexual violence against children was very concerning and could not be tolerated. Moreover, cases of sexual violence against children have recently occurred in educational institutions that play a role in the growth and development of children even though these crimes are committed in the private sphere.

“Children must be protected from sexual predators. Parents and those around them should no longer be silent because currently Indonesia already has the TPKS Law, which is more able to ensnare perpetrators of sexual violence, “said Diah.

The legislator from the West Java III electoral district emphasized that the DPR is committed to overseeing the implementation of the TPKS Law so that there are no more victims of sexual violence. Mainly, said Diah, from the children.

“The TPKS Law is a strong foundation for resolving cases of sexual violence in Indonesia. There should be no place at all for perpetrators of sexual violence that can damage the future of children as the nation's next generation," he said.

"According to the theme of the 2022 National Children's Day 'Protected Children, Advanced Indonesia', we must ensure the safety of children from sexual violence for the progress of Indonesia," added Diah.

Furthermore, the DPR also invites policy makers and the public to pay attention to the development of Indonesia's young generation, especially children. Diah mentioned that the DPR is currently initiating the Maternal and Child Welfare Bill, which aims to ensure that Indonesia has superior human resources (HR).

“The welfare of the child must be guaranteed since the child is in the mother's womb. The health and development of children need to be supported from the time of conception until the child is in school. This is the duty of the State," he explained.

Not only that, Diah also asked the Government's attention to the implementation of face-to-face learning in schools and boarding education institutions amid the increase in COVID-19 cases. Although the spread of the virus is starting to be controlled, the presence of new variants of Corona must continue to be watched out for.

This includes the implementation of teaching and learning activities held in schools and religious education institutions. Protection of children must be guaranteed and strived for by all elements of the nation because children are the next generation that determines the future of Indonesia," concluded Diah.