Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Minister of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection (PPPA) Bintang Puspayoga said that the number of awardees of the 2023 Child-Friendly City Award increases as compared to the previous year's edition.

"This (positive trend) reflects the strong commitment of regional leaders and other stakeholders to ensuring the fulfillment of children's rights and protection in their respective regions," she remarked at the 2023 Child-Friendly District/City Award ceremony in Semarang City, Central Java, on Saturday (July 22).

On the occasion, Minister Puspayoga presented the 2023 District/City Award to a total of 360 districts/cities in four different categories.

Furthermore, she also awarded the Child-Friendly Award to as many as 14 provinces for their tremendous efforts in encouraging districts and cities to become child-friendly regions.

The minister then stated that the award constitutes the government's appreciation to governors, district heads, mayors, and their ranks for staunch commitment to creating safe and friendly zones for children.

She also expressed hope that the award will motivate regions to continue and further strengthen their hard work in protecting children and fulfilling their rights.

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Minister Puspayoga stressed that the increased number of awardees served as a special progress that was in line with the devoted collective desire to ensure the fulfillment of children's rights and protection through planned, comprehensive, and sustainable efforts.

The efforts, she continued, will pave a way towards the realization of the goals of 2030 Child-Friendly District/City and Indonesia as well as Golden Indonesia 2045.

This year, a total of 19 districts/cities won the award in the main category, with eight of them managed to retain their achievement: Yogyakarta City, Surabaya City, Surakarta City, Denpasar City, East Jakarta City, Probolinggo City, Sleman City, and Siak District.

Meanwhile, 11 districts/cities successfully made progress from being the recipients of the award in the nindya category in the last year to becoming the main category award winners this year.

The regions are Bantul District, Balikpapan City, Sawahlunto City, Tulungagung District, Semarang City, North Jakarta City, South Jakarta City, Padang City, Padang Panjang City, Madiun City, and Sragen District.

Furthermore, the ministry also named 14 provinces as child-friendly provinces, namely Bali, Banten, DKI Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Central Java, East Java, South Kalimantan, Bangka Belitung Islands, Riau Islands, Lampung, West Nusa Tenggara, Riau, North Sulawesi, and West Sumatra.

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Translator: Anita Permata, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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