NGOs call for commission on children's rights<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are
\ncalling on the government to establish a national commission on
\nchildren's rights in order to better protect Indonesia's
\nchildren, especially street children and child workers.<\/p>\n
A group of 29 NGOs made the proposal here yesterday during a
\nhearing with the House Commission VIII, which oversees health and
\nsocial services.<\/p>\n
The activists, who deal with neglected children on a daily
\nbasis, reminded legislators that Indonesia ratified the
\nInternational Convention on Children's Rights in 1990.
\nConsequently, the proposed commission would be a logical follow-
\nup to the goal of protecting children.<\/p>\n
The NGOs also said that the commission would be expected to
\nwork with the government in finding solutions to the problems of
\nchild workers and street children.<\/p>\n
Sarsito Sarwono, the secretary-general of an NGO called the
\nNational Board on Social Welfare, said the commission should
\ncomprise government officials and NGOs activists. It should also
\nhelp provide the government with inputs in drawing up regulations
\nand laws on child affairs which can be implemented effectively,
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Sarsito explained the urgency of establishing such a
\ncommission in order to prevent the occurrences of child abuse. He
\nacknowledged that some countries have worse records on abuse of
\nchildren's rights.<\/p>\n
\"We wouldn't want things that have happened in Manila or
\nBangkok to happen here,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The Philippines has some 1,500,000 street children as well as
\nchild workers. In Indonesia, about 50,000 children roam the
\nstreets of big cities such as Jakarta, Surabaya, Medan and
\nSemarang which have been helped by the NGOS.<\/p>\n
During the hearing presided over by Rustandi of the Golkar
\nfaction, the NGOS also criticized the government for laws that
\ncontradicted one another, often at the expense of children's
\nwelfare.<\/p>\n
For example, the Ministry of Social Services is responsible
\nfor the welfare of neglected children, but the nine-year
\ncompulsory elementary education program is run by the Ministry of
\nEducation and Culture, the group's spokesman, Amrullah, said.<\/p>\n
The problem of street children and child workers, however, was
\noften left to the NGOs, he said. \"There are no regulations which
\ncan comprehensively deal with the root of the problems of street
\nchildren.\"<\/p>\n
He pointed out that there are even regulations which aggravate
\nthe problem of street children. Jakarta, for instance, bans cars
\nwith less than three passengers from some thoroughfares during
\ncertain hours.<\/p>\n
\"This policy creates opportunities for poor children to work
\nas 'jockeys': paid extra passengers,\" he said. \"Then the police
\nraid and arrest them.\"<\/p>\n
Amrullah pointed out that Jakarta police have arrested 2,300
\n\"jockeys\". (01)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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