"Children have the right to contribute to development as subjects of development and have the right to involve themselves and be involved in every process of development," the minister stated at an online event on Wednesday.
Puspayoga made the statement at an event titled "Sharing Good Practices to Protect Children, Families, and Vulnerable People Through Children's Meaningful Participation Towards an Inclusive Indonesia."
She emphasized that children's participation in development is not only limited to planning but also implementation to the evaluation of development.
The Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection already has the Children's Forum Program aimed at opening the widest possible space for children to participate in the development process.
Related news: Ministry prepares guideline on children's participation in development
The minister explained that the obligation to fulfill children's rights is a result of the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child through Presidential Decree Number 36 of 1990 regarding the Ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
"With the ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Indonesia has recognized children's rights absolutely and is committed to protecting all Indonesian children across the country," she pointed out.
Various mandates of the Convention on the Rights of the Child have been translated into several laws, including Law Number 23 of 2002 on Child Protection.
She stated that fulfillment and protection of children's rights are not only the responsibility of the government but also all parties.
At Wednesday's event, the ministry, along with Save the Children Indonesia, the National Children's Forum, and Children & Youth Advisory Network (CYAN), launched a guideline for the participation of children in regional development.
The launch of the guideline is aimed at acknowledging children's views so as to open the widest possible space for children's participation in development.
Related news: Investment in children most valuable for development: Minister
Related news: Invite children to partake in co-operatives sector: Ministry
Translator: Anita Permata, Raka Adji
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
Copyright © ANTARA 2023
