Central Sebatik Government Involves Children in Regional Development Through Children's Forum

The Central Sebatik District Government in Nunukan Regency, North Kalimantan, is involving children in the development planning process through the establishment of a Children’s Forum as a platform for conveying aspirations, as well as an effort to fulfil children’s rights in the region. Central Sebatik Sub-district Head Aris Nur stated that the Children’s Forum was created so that children’s voices could become part of every development discussion. “In every development planning consultation, we invite children to convey their wishes,” Aris said in Sebatik on Thursday. Through this forum, he continued, children can voice a number of issues they face, including difficulties in obtaining civil documents such as birth certificates, Child Identity Cards, and identity cards for those who are eligible. The sub-district government then acts as a liaison with the Nunukan Regency Population and Civil Registration Office to make civil administration services more accessible to the public, considering Sebatik’s geographical condition as an island area. The sub-district also implements a proactive service, including data collection and recording of civil documents for vulnerable groups and persons with disabilities. This programme is carried out periodically by borrowing recording equipment from the Population and Civil Registration Office when needed. In addition to strengthening the fulfilment of children’s civil rights, the Central Sebatik District Government is also running a parenting programme in the digital era through the Digital World Activity Monitoring Programme for Children. The programme aims to enhance the role of parents in supervising children’s activities when using digital devices and internet media. “The main target is the fulfilment of children’s rights. We want to ensure children are involved in all aspects of development, so their aspirations are heard,” he said. These efforts have yielded results, with the district winning first place at the North Kalimantan provincial level in the Women-Friendly and Child-Caring Village category for its digital-era parenting programme for children and adolescents. Going forward, the Central Sebatik District Government plans to share these best practices with other areas so that child participation in development and the protection of children’s rights can be implemented more widely. “That is what we want to pass on to other areas in Sebatik,” said Aris Nur.