"The most valuable investment in a region is quality human resources, namely children," she said at a lunch event ahead of the 2022 World Children's Day commemoration in Manado, North Sulawesi, on Friday.
World Children's Day is commemorated every November 20.
Quality children become an investment for development that is more important than natural resources, such as mining, oil, or natural gas, the minister explained.
Children can be considered as a "relay baton" that would help the Indonesian nation to grow stronger and become more developed. To this end, she emphasized that all the rights of children must be fulfilled by the state.
Puspayoga then listed several children’s rights, such as the right to grow and develop, the right to get protection, and the right to participate.
"Fulfilling the rights of children is our shared responsibility," she said.
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Therefore, to welcome World Children's Day, she invited all regional governments to strengthen synergy and collaboration in supporting the fulfillment of children's rights.
"We are waiting for synergy and collaboration from the North Sulawesi government to advance, not only providing protection for children but also empowering women in North Sulawesi," she said.
The peak event of the 2022 World Children's Day commemoration will be held in Manado and will be joined online and offline by Indonesian children, the minister added.
In addition, children from 10 ASEAN countries also participate in the event.
She expressed the hope that the momentum of World Children's Day would be used as an opportunity to strengthen child protection in the community.
"We thank you for attending and joining in facilitating the 2022 World Children's Day event, especially today, we can have lunch together," she remarked.
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Translator: Hreeloita Dharma, Raka Adji
Editor: Suharto
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