Irony on National Children’s Day

KOMPAS/HENDRA A SETYAWAN

The anti-violence campaign against mothers and children continues to be voiced by the community, one of which is through mural media as seen in the Gandaria area, Jakarta, Tuesday (5/3/2019).

This year’s National Children’s Day was commemorated with the theme Indonesia advances by protecting children. The irony is not lost on us when cases of bullying still occur.

TASIKMALAYA, KOMPAS – Indonesia still reports cases of bullying. In 2020, the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) recorded 119 cases of bullying. This figure spiked compared with previous years, which typically ranged from 30-60 cases per year.

One recent case that has left the public in shock was the bullying of F (11), a boy from Singaparna district, Tasikmalaya regency, West Java. As of Friday (22/7/2022), the police have examined 15 witnesses related to the case involving F. They include the alleged perpetrator, the victim’s family and friends of the victim.

The victim’s family and the alleged perpetrators are now being protected in a safe house.

The bullying that was experience by F highlights serious issues that must be addressed together, especially in terms of child support.

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During the reading of the 2022 National Children’s Day Guidelines, Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Minister I Gusti Ayu Bintang Darmawati said that the commemoration of National Children’s Day, which fell on Saturday (23/7), was the best time to encourage the participation of all parties of the nation to ensure that children’s rights are fulfilled. These are rights such as the right to live, grow, develop and participate fairly in accordance with human dignity and to be protected from violence and discrimination.

TANGKAPAN LAYAR DARI AKUN YOUTUBE KEMENTERIAN PPPA

Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection Minister I Gusti Ayu Bintang Darmawati.

Support

Head of the Tasikmalaya Police Criminal Investigation Unit, Adj. Comm. Dian Pornomo, said on Friday that the Tasikmalaya Regional Child Protection Commission (KPAID) submitted a report regarding the case on Thursday (21/7). The investigation of the case was supported by the West Java Police, who deployed their personnel to assist the Tasikmalaya Police.

“The KPAID submitted the report yesterday afternoon. Moving forward, this case will be fully supported by the West Java Police and all information will be directed there,” said Dian.

Allegations of the boy being bullied have widely circulated on social media. In the 15-second video, the victim is shown being forced to commit immoral acts against a cat. In the video, a number of children can be heard laughing at the recorded action.

“It is children who are bullying, so we must act proportionately in dealing with the issue,” said West Java Police head of public relations, Sr. Comm. Ibrahim Tompo.

Tasikmalaya KPAID head Ato Rinanto stated that the video of the alleged bullying was disseminated online at the end of June 2022. A few days after the video spread online, the victim became ill and died on Sunday (17/7) night.

Ato will fully support the case until the truth comes to light. Moreover, officers will investigate allegations of the involvement of adults in editing the video and its dissemination on the internet.

Ato suspected that that was not the first time the victim was bullied.

Additionally, officers will also examine the victim’s condition when he was with his friends. Ato suspected that that was not the first time the victim was bullied.

According to Ato, solving this case does not only require finding out who is at fault, but also to increase awareness that children need to be looked after and supervised. Moreover, in this case, the fact that there was an immoral act showed that children have consumed such media without supervision.

Bullying, said Ato, needs more attention now that there is social media. Bullying that is recorded and disseminated online leaves behind a digital footprint that will add to the victim’s trauma because they will continue to be reminded of the unpleasant act.

“In the past, bullying was not recorded so there wouldn’t be any digital trace of it. Now that there is, children will continue to be reminded of it and may become even more traumatized as long as the traces remain. Therefore, bullying nowadays is very dangerous and everyone in the community must supervise their children,” said Ato.

Disaster contingency

Separately, in an online discussion regarding the commemoration of 2022 National Children’s Day on Friday, United Nations Children’s Funds (UNICEF) partner Erwin Mahendra conveyed the importance of directly involving children and adolescents in disaster contingency plans. This is because children and adolescents are one of the groups most at risk of being affected by disasters.

“They need to be involved in disaster contingency planning so that their rights are fulfilled, rights such as participation and protection. Their opinions can complement their rights in a case of emergency,” said Erwin.

KOMPAS/WISNU WIDIANTORO

Children talk with the Minister of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection, Yohana Yembise during the peak of the 2019 National Children's Day which was held at Karebosi Field, Makassar, South Sulawesi, Tuesday (23/7/2019).

The lack of involvement of children and adolescents in disaster contingency planning occurs due to a lack of knowledge. On the other hand, disasters are often discussed by adults using terminology that is difficult for children and adolescents to understand.

In Surabaya, East Java, the commemoration of 2022 National Children’s Day was enlivened by a ludruk garingan (traditional theatre monologue) along with the play Besut dan Rusmini Bermain Wayang Suket. Culture is believed to be able to strengthen the identities and self-esteem of children. (RTG/MTK/BRO/ABK)

(This article was translated by Kesya Adhalia).