Children, Women in Underdeveloped Regions Need More Protection: Minister

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Bintang Puspayoga, Minister of  Women's Empowerment and Child Protection (PPPA), stated that children and women living in underdeveloped, frontier, and outermost (3T) regions need more assistance in facing sexual violence.

"In relation to the factor of patriarchal culture, indeed, when we talk about the 3T regions, it is very, very sad," she remarked at the “Being PPPA Minister for a Day” event on Saturday.

The most noticeable difference in conditions in the 3T regions is that many women in those regions do not enjoy the same opportunities as men to achieve their goals or determine their future, she noted.

Another concerning issue is that of child victims of early marriages giving birth to babies at an age when they are supposed to play or go to school and explore their abilities much better. In addition, there are children falling victim to sexual violence.

She informed that as an initial step to prevent sexual violence against children, she has initiated the Women-Friendly and Child-Nurturing Village (DRPPA) program.

Under the program, if they agree, villages in districts and cities must create a life that is safe and decent and uphold equality in every development or community empowerment effort, regardless of gender.

"DRPPA is a village model developed by the PPPA Ministry to answer five instructions from the President started at the village level," the minister said.

She further said that because people in the 3T regions tend to listen to the local religious and traditional leaders, the ministry is building synergy and collaboration with them in efforts to eradicate sexual violence against children and women and disseminate the harmful impacts of sexual violence.

The minister affirmed that she will encourage the participation of all parties, up to the smallest unit of society, namely families, to empower children further instead of forcing them to work or get married.

Puspayoga expressed the hope that the relevant ministries and agencies will support regional governments in protecting all children in the 3T regions and pay more attention by providing assistance or initiating policies and programs that can protect children and women from sexual violence.

ANTARA

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