Providing a space for children to discuss (issues) is a form of their involvement, not only as objects but subjects of development.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection is seeking to strengthen the National Children's Forum (FAN) as a platform for children to participate in the nation's development.

"Providing a space for children to discuss (issues) is a form of their involvement, not only as objects but subjects of development," the ministry's deputy for children's rights fulfillment, Agustina Erni, explained here on Friday.

The National Children's Forum has proven itself to be able to provide creative ideas to solve problems in their (respective) regions, she said.

According to information provided on its official website, FAN aims to bridge communication and interaction between the government and children across Indonesia in order to fulfill children's rights to participate. Currently, FAN has spread from the level of villages, sub-districts, districts/cities, to provinces.

According to Erni, through FAN, the ministry is providing a space for Indonesian children to express their views and opinions on various children’s problems in each region.

In addition, the ministry is improving the forum by increasing the capacity, facilitators, and companions involved in FAN.

Welcoming the commemoration of National Children's Day 2022 on July 23, Erni said that the government—at the central, provincial, and regional levels—is making efforts to implement Ministerial Regulation No. 1 of 2022 concerning the implementation of children's forums.

In addition, synergy and collaboration are crucial for increasing children's participation as the "2Ps" (informants and pioneers), she added.

"The ‘pioneers’ here is how children are expected to initiate positive action/contribute as agents of change. Meanwhile, as ‘informants,’ children are expected to report all matters related to the fulfillment of their rights through various channels that have been provided by the government," Women's Empowerment and Child Protection Minister Bintang Puspayoga explained earlier.

If they cannot become pioneers, at least the children participating in the forum can become informants on cases of violations of children's rights in their regions, she added.

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Translator: Anita D, Kenzu T
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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