Children need more protection from the state<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Freedom from any form of exploitation topped children's demands
\nconveyed to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono during the
\nNational Children's Day celebration on Sunday.<\/p>\n
The children. summing up their three-day congress, also asked
\nthe government to set up a new ministry tasked with dealing with
\nchildren's issues and to take serious measures to enforce Law No.
\n23\/2002 on child protection.<\/p>\n
"Many Indonesian children are at risk of falling victim to
\ncommercial sexual exploitation and forced labor on the streets,
\nwhile the government has failed to address the problems," the
\nchildren said in a statement read by Andra Septian and Rustio
\nRiskandaru before the President and several Cabinet ministers
\nattending the celebration at Taman Mini Indonesia in East
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
The government was also criticized for failing to protect
\nchildren in conflict-prone areas, such as Maluku and Aceh, where
\nmany children witnessed or were victims of violence.<\/p>\n
The recent malnutrition cases which resulted in the deaths of
\ndozens of children were further proof of the government's failure
\nto protect children, they said.<\/p>\n
"We expect the government to provide healthy food for children
\nnationwide so they will not suffer from malnutrition, and provide
\nfree medical care," the statement said.<\/p>\n
Free education, which the government has conceded unlikely due
\nto the oil subsidy, was another demand the children voiced before
\nthe President.<\/p>\n
Poverty is blamed for the failure of one in every five
\nIndonesian children under 15 to obtain an education, according to
\na recent survey conducted by the International Labor
\nOrganization.<\/p>\n
The children also asked the government to change the juvenile
\npenitentiary into an institution that provides "assistance and
\nprotection for children who are dealing with legal matters" and
\ngrant special remission to juvenile inmates.<\/p>\n
Responding to the demands, Susilo said the government and the
\nlegislators had agreed to reallocate the fuel subsidy for
\neducation and health care, although he acknowledged it would not
\nmaterialize in the near future.<\/p>\n
During the commemoration, the President presented awards to
\nAndi Juanda, 15, a junior high school student from Padang, West
\nSumatra, Asti Utami, 17, a senior high school student from
\nPalembang, South Sumatra, for their contribution to the promotion
\nof children's rights and Bela Diniyah Putri, 13, a junior high
\nschool student from Lampung for her efforts to fight for
\nchildren's rights through music and sports.<\/p>\n
Later in the day, the children joined thousands of others at
\nAncol Dreamland in North Jakarta to continue the celebration.<\/p>\n
First Lady Kristiani Herawati stole the show in the televised
\nevent when she read a story for the children. Kristiani asked the
\nchildren in her 15-minute story to express their thoughts and
\nfeelings.<\/p>\n
Kristiani also asked the children to support the government
\ncampaign for energy conservation by reducing lighting at night
\nand avoiding watching TV and playing computer games.<\/p>",
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