Child Protection Minister Highlights Need for Anti-violence Education Strategy

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Minister of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection (PPPA) Bintang Puspayoga has emphasized the importance of developing an anti-violence education strategy for early childhood.

The strategy is needed since children are a group that is vulnerable to violence and exploitation, she explained.

"We need support from various parties to participate in preventing violence against children," she said in a statement received on Monday.

Based on data from the Online Information System for the Protection of Women and Children (SIMFONI PPA), during the period from January to November 2022, as many as 1,664 children aged less than six years fell victim to violence, Puspayoga pointed out.

"Both teachers and parents can socialize non-violence values in early childhood in various ways, such as storytelling, through games, or through music," the minister added.

She said she believes that the use of various existing methods could help shape both the personality and emotional development of children to prevent violence against them.

In terms of child violence handling, she informed that her ministry has set up the 129 hotline number of Friends of Women and Children (SAPA) as a reporting service to ensure the protection of women and children.

"For people who have experienced, heard of, or know about cases of violence against women and children, they can directly call (021) 129 or (report them) via WhatsApp messenger at 08111-129-129," she remarked.

Meanwhile, Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Nadiem Makarim said that early childhood education (PAUD) units must become learning environments that are fun, inclusive, and free from all forms of violence.

"Since the first time we launched Independent Learning, I have emphasized that our system must be free from bullying, intolerance, and sexual violence," Makarim emphasized.

For this reason, his ministry is continuing to encourage the prevention and handling of bullying, intolerance, and sexual violence through anti-violence education campaigns and law enforcement.

ANTARA

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