"The ministry is concerned about the incident, especially since it was allegedly caused by the parents' relationship outside marriage. We are committed to monitoring this case and fulfilling the baby's needs in the future. This case shows inappropriate childcare in Indonesia," the ministry's acting deputy for the fulfillment of children's rights, Rini Handayani, said in a statement received here on Saturday.
Synergy between related parties is needed to socialize reproductive education for children and teenagers as well as family resilience education for prospective parents, she added.
"We need a joint movement to prevent similar cases from happening in the future. The government, religious leaders, traditional leaders, the community, and families must work together to provide reproductive education to children and teenagers, as well as family resilience education to prospective parents," Handayani said.
As of April 2023, two cases involving the abandonment of babies by their parents have been recorded in Banjarmasin City — one case involved a toddler who had been returned to its parents who were not yet married, she informed.
Meanwhile, the second baby was abandoned in a cardboard box and is receiving intensive care at a hospital, while the case is still being investigated by the police, she said.
Her ministry has coordinated with the South Kalimantan Women's Empowerment and Child Protection Service (DPPPA), South Kalimantan Women and Children’s Protection Regional Technical Implementation Unit (UPTD PPA), and Banjarmasin City Social Service to provide treatment to and fulfill the rights of the baby.
"Based on the information we received, the baby is being taken care of by a temporary prospective adoptive parent (COTA) appointed by the Banjarmasin City Social Service," she informed.
She said that if the baby's parents are not found, the baby would be sent to a baby care center owned by the South Kalimantan Social Service for a maximum of six months and then, it will be put up for adoption with the assistance of a related institution.
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Translator: Anita Permata D, Resinta S
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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