TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Regional Child Protection Commission pioneering team said Yogyakarta is in a emergency state of violence against children. Two members of the agency visited Yogyakarta regional council to hold a hearing on August 15, 2016.
The Regional Child Protection Commission pioneering team member Bagus Suryanto said the number of violence cases against children continues to rise year over year. His team found 103 cases of physical violence, psyicological violence, sexual violence, neglect and child trafficking in 2013.
In 2014, there were 403 cases of child neglect. Moreover, some child rights abuse cases were not recorded, namely malnutrition, bullying by teachers and class-mates. “Sexual violence cases are the most prevalent,” Bagus told Tempo after the hearing.
According to him, some agencies in Yogyakarta are already tasked with handling various cases of violence against children. But the agencies’ programs are yet to be implemented fully. For example, the lack of child-friendly community health services.
Therefore, his team of child right activists from non-governmental organizations and civil servants has pushed for the establishment of Regional Child Protection Commission in Yogyakarta. The agency will also be needed to oversee programs on children.
Chairman of Yogyakarta Community and Women Empowerment Office Octo Noor Arafat said Yogyakarta is still in the process of becoming a child friendly city. For example, by establishing 159 child-friendly villages. “The program is rather top-down. It has yet to spur considerable amount of public initiatives,” he said.
Member of Commission D, Yogyakarta Regional Council, Suryani will evaluate the program because in several villages, the program has been either ineffective or merely ceremonial.
SHINTA MAHARANI
