This circulation letter is intended to encourage regional governments to carry out prevention, provide protection, and ensure that children have a safe environment.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Social Affairs Minister Tri Rismaharini has issued a circulation letter to all regional heads, urging them to strengthen the security and protection of children in various environments.

"This circulation letter is intended to encourage regional governments to carry out prevention, provide protection, and ensure that children have a safe environment," she said in a press statement issued on Monday.

The Circulation Letter No. 2 of 2022 on Child Security and Protection in Various Environments is addressed to governors, districts heads, mayors, and stakeholders, she informed.

Directed, integrated, systematic, and sustainable efforts are necessary for the prevention and handling of violence against children and the provision of assistance to children, she said.

Rismaharini further said her ministry has carried out prevention efforts in response to an increasing trend in cases of violence against children.

The efforts comprise nurturing and prevention focused on children, parents, and community, social campaigns, and law enforcement, she informed.

Meanwhile, the handling of violence has involved reporting, comprehensive assessment and handling, law enforcement, multi-disciplinary knowledge inclusion, and stakeholders’ involvement, she said.

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As per the ministry's data, perpetrators of violence, including sexual violence, often belong to the victim’s immediate environment, such as biological father, stepfather, grandfather, uncle, neighbor, lover, teacher, nanny, a friend from social media, and stranger, the minister noted.

"Women and children victims of violence often experience more than one type of violence. It often occurs within a certain period of time and can happen online," she said.

According to the ministry's data, as of January 6, 2022, the number of children impregnated due to sexual violence was 780. While 568 of them have given birth, 212 have not, the minister said.

The data also shows that as of January 31, 2022, the total number of cases of violence against children had reached 1,253, she added.

Of this figure, the highest number of victims, that is, 338 children faced sexual abuse, while 80 children suffered physical and/or mental violence, Rismaharini said.

The child protection mandate and special protection have been strengthened by the Law on Changes in Law No. 23 of 2002 on Children Protection in Articles 14, 15, 45B, 47, and 54, she noted.

In addition, special protection is a form of protection that children receive in certain situations and conditions so they are assured of safety against dangers that threaten them, she explained.

The protection efforts have been bolstered through Article 59 of Law No. 23/2022, which emphasizes that the government, regional governments, and other state institutions have the obligation and responsibility to provide special protection to children, she added.

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Translator: Andi Firdaus, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Suharto
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