Early Sex Education Crucial in Protecting Children, Says Expert

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The former commissioner of the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) and expert on children's welfare Retno Listyarti, asserted that early sex education can help prevent children from being victims of sexual crimes. 

"Sex education is not a taboo and it needs to be done to protect children from sexual crimes," Retno said as quoted by Antaranews. 

Retno argued that sex education is important because children are generally unaware when they are being victimized or are being sexually abused by older people in their environment. 

Retno also suggested parents start teaching children sex education as soon as they are able to speak and start to teach them the biological term of the male and female genitals. Retno also called for parents to elaborate on which parts of the human body should not be seen or touched by other people.

"During bath time, [educating them about sex] can be done by explaining to them which parts of the body are only allowed to be held or seen by them," Retno said. 

Retno gave an example of simple differentiation to explain to a child, “Affection is when a mother hugs. And an improper touch is when a person hugs but also gropes the chest and bottom,” Retno explained. 

The former KPAI commissioner also said children must be taught about online sexual abuse, especially those who are starting to enter their teens or generally over 13 years old. Children at this age, Retno explained, must be exposed to knowledge about reproductive health. 

"If children are starting to understand the opposite sex, then that's where reproductive health education should be taught," Retno said.

ANTARA

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