UN's Praises Indonesia's Efforts to Prevent Child Violence  

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Marta Santos Pais, special representative of the United Nations Secretary-General, congratulated President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo for leading Indonesia to attain the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

"The President's commitment to place children in the heart of the national development agenda is impressive," Santos Pais said in a press release received by Tempo on Monday, February 27, 2017.

Earlier, Santos Pais met President Jokowi at the State Palace in Jakarta on Monday, February 27, 2017. Also attending the meeting were Culture and Education Minister Muhadjir Effendy, Women's Empowerment and Child Protection Minister Yohana Yambise, State Secretary Pratikno, and UNICEF's Representatives for Indonesia.

"The national strategy to eliminate violence against children that was recently adopted plays an important role in achieving the goals in relation to children," Santos Pais added.

Santos Pais also highlighted the negative impacts of violence against children on the opportunity to have a healthy growth and education. Santos Pais called on President Jokowi to consider forming a high-level taskforce to prevent violence against children.

During the meeting with President Jokowi, Santos Pais also raised child marriage issues.

"In Indonesia, one out of four girls gets married before their 18th birthday. This will have a huge impacts on their opportunity to have healthy life and education, which in turn will hamper the national economic and social developments," Santos Pais added.

Santos Pais also called on public and religious leaders to take part in the prevention of such social practices. Santos Pais admitted that Indonesia has initiated innovative endeavours to alleviate poverty through social protection schemes, such as the Smart Indonesia Card. Santos Pais said that such schemes provide important contributions to keep girls in school and prevent them to have an early marriage.

Santos Pais suggested Indonesia to share the success and other initiatives at the SDGs forum to be held in July in New York, US.

"Raising awareness of the cost for not taking actions to prevent violence against children and investing in the prevention are the ways to a sustainable development," Santos Pais said.

FERY ANDRIANSYAH