Vice President Reminds Children Involved In Trauma Potential Campaign

Illustration of a child taking off the glass in a special room for children during the presidential candidate campaign in Palu, Monday (4/12/2023). BETWEEN PHOTOs/Basri Marzuki/foc.

JAKARTA - Vice President (Vice President) Ma'ruf Amin appealed to the public, especially parents, not to invite children to campaign for the 2024 General Election.

In this case, the Vice President asked all elements of society to understand the rules that do not allow children to participate in any political activities, including election campaigns.

"And it is dangerous if a child is brought to join (the campaign). If something happens, it will be dangerous," said the Vice President when met in Jakarta, Thursday, January 25, confiscated by Antara.

According to him, children who actually don't understand politics can actually experience trauma if they are involved in activities such as election campaigns.

"It is better not to invite (children) in political activities and campaigns," he added.

Article 280 Paragraph (2) Letter k of Law Number 7 of 2017 concerning Elections has mandated that implementers and/or campaign teams in election campaign activities are prohibited from including Indonesian citizens who do not have the right to vote.

In addition, Law Number 35 of 2014 concerning Amendments to Law Number 23 of 2002 concerning Child Protection has also regulated that children should not be involved in political activities.

Previously, a member of the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) of the Civil Rights and Freedom Cluster? Maria said her agency received complaints during the 2024 election campaign period, including complaints about children being used as spokespersons for certain candidates.

"There are almost 10 complaints, carried out by both legislative candidates and groups of presidential and vice presidential candidates. In addition, children are also targeted by campaigns. So, the campaign is targeted at parents, but children are targeted by providing items that are not campaign tools", saidtamaa in Jakarta, Monday, January 22.

Then, the other most complaints to KPAI are children who are used as objects of money politics, paid by legislative candidates to campaign.

In addition, KPAI also received information about viral children who expressed opinions about certain candidates.

"KPAI thinks that children's participation must be respected and protected, but KPAI encourages children's participation to continue to refer to ethical values, so that children still have room for freedom of speech, but are not free to speak anything. For that we encourage adults to accompany children, how should they express their opinions in public spaces," he said.