Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection emphasized the importance of a roadmap on child protection in cyberspace to prevent the negative effects of online exposure among children.

The roadmap is increasingly essential since Indonesian children are highly active internet users, according to the ministry's Deputy of Child Protection, Nahar.

"Indonesian children are highly active internet users (which makes them) vulnerable to its negative effects, such as cyberbullying, sextortion, scam, hoax, child grooming, pornography, and online sexual exploitation and harassment," he stated here on Saturday.

All stakeholders should be attentive to the issue of child protection in cyberspace, as its ease of access, especially if done without adult supervision, will make children much more vulnerable to falling victim to online crimes, Nahar explained.

"Moreover, Indonesia is among the top 10 countries with the highest cases of online child sexual violence since 2005," the ministry official noted.

Nahar also highlighted the importance of collaboration and commitment between the global and regional community for protecting children in cyberspace.

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He noted that at the regional level, the ASEAN Regional Dialogue on Children Online Protection produced 10 recommendations to protect children who are active in the online sphere.

A presidential regulation to enact the roadmap is currently under the drafting process, the official revealed, adding that it will provide clear guidance and mechanisms for all parties involved in the efforts to protect children in cyberspace.

The regulation will also affirm the roles of children, parents, teachers, nannies, internet service providers, law enforcers, and civil society in child protection, he added.

Nahar said that apart from his ministry, the roadmap finalization also involves various government ministries, the National Cyber and Crypto Agency (BSSN), and the Financial Transaction Report and Analysis Centre (PPATK).

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Translator: Anita Permata D, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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