Do not neglect child poverty<\/p>\n
Erita Narhetali
\nDirector
\nInstitute for Marginalized
\nChildren Studies
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
Minister of Social Affairs Bachtiar Chamsyah has admitted that
\nthe problem of street children has been poorly addressed. All of
\nthe concerned departments run their own programs separately, so
\nthe overall problem remains unsolved, according to the minister.<\/p>\n
On top of the problem of a lack of coordination and of a
\ncomprehensive solution, the minister also revealed that a program
\nof \"shelters\", or halfway houses (rumah singgah), had proven to
\nbe ineffective despite being funded by loans.<\/p>\n
Thus the government decided to stop funding the program this
\nyear, and a new approach will be developed to assist street
\nchildren by helping their families. Research has showed that 90
\npercent of street children in shelters still have a family, but
\neconomic need drives them to the streets. It is this economic
\nneed of the family that will be addressed.<\/p>\n
However, at least two things must first be clarified.<\/p>\n
First, the problem of street children is not only about
\neconomics. It also involves psychology, law and politics. Instead
\nof only providing them food, health services and education,
\nchildren need to be treated as human beings, with love and care
\nas well as protection. Many children in this country are victims
\nof violence, negligence, exploitation, mistreatment and
\ndiscrimination, along with a severe lack of basic need
\nfulfillment.<\/p>\n
Second, street children are not the only children who are
\nsuffering. According to Seto Mulyadi, the chairman of the
\nNational Commission for Child Protection, the country must deal
\nwith the problems of child labor, child trafficking, child
\nprostitution, street children, children in conflict areas and
\nundernourished children.<\/p>\n
This reality implies the urge to have child problems tackled
\ncomprehensively, not partially. We must go beyond partial
\npolicies such as the cheap education for poor children run by the
\nMinistry of National Education, the shelters for street children
\nrun by the social ministry, and arresting street children and
\ncharging them with disturbing public order, which is overseen by
\nlocal governments. This is because the children learn how to cope
\nand even benefit from such circumstances.<\/p>\n
They move around from shelter to shelter looking for one that
\nprovides more food, clothes, toys and pleasure. They eventually
\nmaster ways to escape from rehabilitation houses, and drop out of
\nschool to earn money from the streets again. Thus our policies
\nappear like a blind man trying to shoot flying birds.<\/p>\n
Now all we need is to ensure that the right policies are in
\nplace, tackling not just the symptoms of child problems but also
\nthe root causes.<\/p>\n
Mostly, root causes can be traced to poverty and deprivation.
\nThus, combating poverty will be more effective when it is done in
\ncombination with the fight for child rights protection. This
\ndemand is even greater since we ratified the Convention on the
\nRights of the Child in 1990.<\/p>\n
Child's rights are useful for implementing a comprehensive
\npolicy based on the principal of the \"best interest of the
\nchild\".<\/p>\n
Analyzing poverty based on children's interests is also
\ncrucial because the seeds of poverty and lack of opportunity are
\nsown in childhood. Children of poor families tend to have a lower
\nbirth weight, higher infant mortality and poorer health. Then
\nthey are less likely to stay in school and acquire fewer skills.
\nIn adulthood they will have more disadvantages, such as earning
\nless money and dying younger.<\/p>\n
These considerations must be taken into account as the
\ngovernment pledges to eradicate the problem of street children
\nusing a \"family approach\". As the number of people who experience
\npoverty has increased, the number of children who live in poverty
\nhas risen sharply as well.<\/p>\n
Turning child-based problems into a family poverty problem
\nwould be detrimental to the children, and it also would be
\nineffective unless we can assure children's rights.<\/p>\n
It is indeed a cliche that we still have no integrated policy,
\nnor the political will, to overcome both child poverty and the
\nabuse of child rights. Child issues are often discounted for more
\npolitically valuable issues. Financial difficulties also have
\nbeen blamed as a big obstacle from time to time.<\/p>\n
In fact, tackling child poverty is not just improving
\nindividual lives, it is also an economic necessity. Everyone pays
\nfor poverty and everyone benefits when communities have more
\njobs, better health, less crime and higher expectations for their
\nchildren.<\/p>\n
In Indonesia, the problem is a lack of organizing resources,
\nrather than a lack of resources. A large number of funding
\nbodies, donors and NGOs, both domestic and international, have
\nimplemented significant budgets and programs concerning child
\nissues since the last decade.<\/p>\n
Unhappily, most of the programs were not designed to be
\nsustainable. And as long as we treat child poverty only in terms
\nof charity, or with short-term programs, we will continue to
\nfail.<\/p>\n
Tackling child poverty is obviously a long-term commitment
\nsupported by professionals, with no place for being half-hearted.
\nOur Constitution confirms that this country is responsible for
\ntaking care of neglected children. So the government should grab
\nthe initiative and organize this movement seriously.<\/p>\n
Start by making child poverty a national issue. Financial
\nproblems? Besides overseas funding, we have huge opportunities in
\nempowering local communities to manage fund-raising. Many people
\nare interested in being donors, but we can hardly find the right
\naccess, well-organized fund management or a trustworthy
\ninstitution.<\/p>\n
Ineffective shelters? Set up a national standard requirement
\nand regulations for maintaining shelters, so people can be
\nassured that children's needs are fulfilled adequately in the
\nconcerned shelters, with no mistreatment or exploitation. We can
\nlearn from other countries about how best to run such shelters.<\/p>\n
Other difficulties could be reduced by networking with other
\nministries, NGOs or academics. There is so much more left to do.
\nWe should not let the facts of street children, child labor,
\nchild trafficking, child prostitution and other child rights
\nviolations remain mere statistics. Not any more.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/do-not-neglect-child-poverty-1447899208",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}