"So far, violations related to children partaking in campaigns are still found. We hope Bawaslu and KPU will continue to carry out monitoring," KPAI Commissioner Dyah Puspitarini stated when contacted here on Friday.
Puspitarini noted that as of the 45th day of the 2024 General Elections' campaign period, the KPAI still found cases of children's involvement in campaigns and also the commodification of children as election commodities. However, she did not furnish details regarding the findings.
To this end, Puspitarini urged election organizers, in this case, the KPU and Bawaslu, at the central and regional levels to not stop conducting monitoring and making other efforts to nip the problem in the bud.
She highlighted that a memorandum of understanding (MoU) had been signed by KPAI, the National Human Rights Institution (LNHAM), Bawaslu, and KPU regarding child-friendly elections that must be jointly adhered to for the good of Indonesian children.
Related news: Ministry calls for efforts to boost children's political knowledge
Earlier, the KPAI had been participating in monitoring children's involvement in politics during the 2014 Presidential Election, the 2017 and 2018 Regional Elections, and the 2019 General Elections.
Based on the monitoring, there were still several cases of children's involvement during the campaign period, and the number of disputes related to vote counting results reached 248 cases in 2014.
During the 2019 General Elections, around 80 cases of children's involvement by political parties were found.
Indonesia will hold the 2024 General Elections on February 14, 2024, in which around 204.8 million voters are expected to participate. The political campaign period started on November 28, 2023, and will end on February 10, 2024.
During the elections, Indonesians will elect a president and vice president as well as members of the House of Representatives (DPR), Regional Representatives Council (DPD), and Regional Legislative Councils (DPRD) at the provincial, city, and district levels.
Related news: Need to prepare children as smart first-time voters: PPPA Ministry
Translator: Moch Mardiansyah, Raka Adji
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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