Prioritize Child Protection

DOKUMENTASI/HUMAS KPPPA

The children were happy when they attended the Peak of National Children's Day 2022, Saturday (23/7/2022) at Teijsmann Park, Kebon Raya Bogor, West Java,

The number of children who have been affected by violence, both physically and psychologically, has not shown a significant decline. Various efforts must be made to overcome it.

According to the data collected by Kompas, 12,623 children were victims of violence in 2019. This figure increased to as many as 12,389 children in 2020, and then to 15,280 children in 2021. As of July 2022, there were 7,566 child victims of violence.

The Office of the Coordinating Minister of Human Development and Culture once said that 20 percent of all children in the country were victims of bullying at school, home and the surrounding environment.

The National Commission for Child Protection (Komnas PA) has recorded at least 119 bullying cases throughout 2020. In fact, this figure ranged from just 30 to 60 cases per year in previous years. This means that incidents of bullying have skyrocketed between 100 and 400 percent. The Office of the Coordinating Minister of Human Development and Culture once said that 20 percent of all children in the country were victims of bullying at school, home and the surrounding environment.

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Therefore, President Joko Widodo's call in commemoration of National Children's Day 2022, which invited all elements of society to join hands to stop bullying and violence against children so children can lead happy lives, needs attention from all of us. Vice President Ma'ruf Amin also pointed out that protecting children is a duty entrusted by God Almighty, so they must be cared for fully through the creation of a safe and healthy environment, so children can develop in good spirits.

KOMPAS/WISNU WIDIANTORO

Children play using bamboo chopsticks at the peak of the 2019 National Children's Day commemoration which was held at Karebosi Field, Makassar, South Sulawesi, Tuesday (23/7/2019).

However, considering the large number of child victims and that this could be just the tip of the iceberg, just calling for action is not enough. There needs to be concrete, fast, and massive efforts along all lines to protect children while on the other hand, efforts must be made to punish perpetrators through deterrence.

All parties must protect children in an emergency and in dealing with the law; in protecting children from minority and isolated groups, children who are exploited economically or sexually, from the misuse of narcotics, alcohol, psychotropic and addictive substances, from becoming victims of child pornography, abduction, sale, or trafficking, and from becoming victims of physical or psychological violence.

The state, the government, local administrations, communities, families, and parents or guardians are obligated and responsible for upholding child protection.

Article 20 in Law No. 35/2014 on the Amendment to Law No. 23/2002 on Child Protection states: "The state, the government, local administrations, communities, families, and parents or guardians are obligated and responsible for upholding child protection."

Child protection efforts include rapid treatment, including physical, psychological, and social treatment and/or rehabilitation, as well as the prevention of diseases and other health problems, psychosocial assistance from treatment to recovery, providing social assistance for children from poor families, as well as providing protection and assistance in every step of the judicial process.

Given the need for fast and simultaneous efforts, the idea of the Indonesian Child Protection Institute chairman, Seto Mulyadi, for every residential community to have a child protection unit may be the fastest solution. Children will be protected immediately, so Indonesia can advance quickly.

(This article was translated by Hyginus Hardoyo)