National Children's Day 2026, the Government Promises a Safe Space for Children

Illustration of elementary school children (Antara)

JAKARTA - The government strengthens child protection ahead of the 2026 National Children's Day through four main pillars, namely strengthening the family room, educational environment, public space, and digital space. This step is taken to present a safe, comfortable, and violence-free environment for children.

Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture (Menko PMK) Pratikno emphasized that child protection is not enough to be done after violence occurs, but must start with prevention efforts.

"We are very serious about building a safe and comfortable space for children," said Pratikno at the Government Communication Agency (Bakom) Building, Jakarta, Wednesday, July 22.

Pratikno explained that the first pillar focuses on strengthening the family room as the first safe and comfortable place for children. The government is carrying out various programs, such as the One Hour Quality Movement with the Family (SatuJamKu), strengthening childcare services, to the formation of the Task Force for Strengthening the Governance of Temporary Childcare Services.

The strengthening of childcare services is carried out through the Sayang Anak Care Garden (Tamasya), Happy Child Garden (TAS), Child Care Garden (TPA), and various other childcare programs run by related ministries and agencies.

"We conclude that children can really get a safe and comfortable space in the family. If something happens or a case of violence, we will respond quickly. This quick response is also something important," he said.

The second pillar targets the educational environment through the National Movement for Safe and Comfortable Space for Children (Gernas Rana). This program is implemented in schools, madrasahs, pesantren, to childcare centers to create a learning environment that is free from bullying and violence.

The government also utilizes the momentum of the new school year through the 2026-2027 School Environment Friendly Introduction Period (MPLS Ramah).

"We have launched this a few days ago by utilizing the new student intake this year or the new school year," said Pratikno.

In addition, the government together with the Ministry of Religion is implementing the Mata Muda and Mata Santri program to strengthen child protection in madrasahs and pesantren, as well as tightening supervision of the use of gadgets through the Circular Letter of the Minister of Basic and Secondary Education Number 18 of 2026 concerning Restrictions on the Use of Gadgets in Educational Units.

The third pillar focuses on providing child-friendly public spaces. The government is working with the Ministry of Home Affairs, local governments, and the Association of All Indonesian City Governments (Apeksi) to provide safe public facilities for children.

"This public space is very important so that children can be safe and comfortable in social environments, in playgrounds, and others. So that there are no very worrying things," he said.

Meanwhile, the fourth pillar is directed at child protection in the digital space. Pratikno revealed that the government pays serious attention to the high exposure to gadgets in the community which reaches around 7.5 hours per day.

The government has issued a Government Regulation on the Governance of the Electronic System in Child Protection (PP TUNAS), as well as encouraging the application of the principle of "Wait for the Child to be Ready" before children have access to gadgets and digital services.

"We are together with Komdigi and the relevant ministries and agencies to ensure that the digital space is a healthy, safe, and comfortable space," said Pratikno.

The government also invites the public to actively report if they find cases of violence against children through various complaint channels, such as the SAPA 129 service, the National Police Hotline 110, the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission complaint channel, and the Ministry of Communication and Digital Content Complaints.