JAKARTA - Alleged violence against children at a daycare in Yogyakarta City has once again exposed the weakness of supervision of childcare institutions. Minister of Empowerment of Women and Child Protection (PPPA) Arifah Fauzi emphasized that cases like this should not be seen as ordinary incidents.
"We express our deepest sympathies to the children of the victims and their families who are affected. Child protection is a shared responsibility that cannot be negotiated. Any form of violence against children is a serious violation of human rights and cannot be tolerated under any circumstances. The state must be present to ensure that victims are protected and perpetrators are prosecuted according to the law," said Arifah on Sunday, April 26.
Arifah emphasized that law enforcement must be carried out firmly and transparently. The government, he said, will not let this case stop in the middle of the road.
The Ministry of PPPA also encourages law enforcement officers to work professionally by involving related institutions, including the Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK), so that victims receive maximum protection.
"This case is a reminder for all of us to strengthen the supervision system for childcare institutions. We will continue to monitor the handling process while ensuring that the victim's recovery is optimal," he said.
This case emerged amid a surge in daycare needs. Changes in work patterns and the increasing number of working mothers make alternative childcare services more needed. However, the readiness of the system is actually lagging behind.
Data from the Ministry of PPPA shows that around 75 percent of families in Indonesia have used alternative care. On the other hand, the quality of services is still a fundamental issue.
There are still many daycare centers that operate without clear standards. Around 44 percent do not have permits or legality. Only 30.7 percent have operational permits. The rest, some of them only have a list or legal entity.
In terms of governance, the issue is no less serious. Around 20 percent of daycare centers do not have SOPs. Meanwhile, 66.7 percent of management human resources have not been certified. The recruitment process for caregivers is often without standards and minimal training.
"This condition shows the high need for daycare services has not been balanced with the quality of services that ensure the optimal fulfillment of children's rights," said Arifah.
The government encourages improvement through child-based service standards, one of which is through the certification of Child-Friendly Care Gardens (TARA) which is regulated in the Minister of PPPA Regulation Number 4 of 2024.
"We encourage the implementation of standardized childcare services through the certification of the Child-Friendly Care Garden (TARA), as regulated in the Minister of PPPA Regulation Number 4 of 2024. The TARA program regulates, standards for child-friendly daycare services, child rights-based childcare principles, referral networks and partnerships, monitoring and evaluation systems. We emphasize the human resource aspect as the main key. Managers and caregivers must understand the concept of child rights-based childcare and have adequate competence," he said.
In addition to technical standards, the implementation of a code of conduct for child protection or child safeguarding is considered mandatory to prevent violence in the daycare environment.
"In addition, the implementation of the child safeguarding code of conduct (child safeguarding) is mandatory as a form of commitment of all human resources in protecting children from all forms of violence, abuse, neglect, exploitation, and other wrong treatment, in line with the principles in the Convention on the Rights of the Child," he continued.
The Ministry of PPPA ensures that psychosocial assistance for victims and families continues. This step is accompanied by an evaluation of the licensing system, supervision, to strengthening the complaint mechanism and rapid response.
Arifah also touched on the close relationship between child protection and the condition of working mothers. According to him, the two cannot be separated in public policy.
"The issue of protecting the rights of working mothers cannot be separated from the fulfillment of children's rights. When a mother works, the focus is not only on productivity, but also ensuring that children continue to receive safe, decent, and quality care," he said.
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