Child Abuse at Little Aresha Daycare: Deputy Chair of Commission VIII Highlights Lack of Supervision in Many Facilities

Jakarta - Deputy Chair of the House of Representatives Commission VIII, Singgih Januratmoko, described the case at the Little Aresha daycare in Yogyakarta as a harsh slap to Indonesia’s child protection system.

This is because 53 out of 103 children who had been entrusted to the daycare became victims of physical and verbal abuse.

“The case of child abuse at the Yogyakarta daycare is a very distressing humanitarian tragedy and a harsh slap to Indonesia’s child protection system,” said Singgih in his statement on Sunday (26/4/2026).

“Many daycares are growing without strict supervision from local governments or relevant agencies. In fact, standard operational procedures (SOP) for child care facilities are already available,” he emphasised.

He also highlighted the weakness in enforcing regulations, evident from the operation of daycares without permits and the limited access to information for parents regarding facilities, child-rearing methods, and daily supervision of children.

“Daycares should be safe spaces for children’s growth and development. However, in this case, there were allegations of inhumane treatment, from neglect to physical abuse that caused deep trauma to the children,” Singgih stressed.

He called for firm law enforcement and urged authorities to thoroughly investigate the case to its roots, including the possibility of systematic negligence by the management.

He also emphasised that the legal process against the 13 suspects must proceed transparently and fairly.

“The central government, together with local governments, needs to conduct a sweeping review and comprehensive audit of all daycares in Indonesia, ensuring compliance with licensing standards and child protection,” he stated.

He further encouraged the formulation of stricter and more integrated regulations across ministries, as well as the establishment of quick and safe reporting mechanisms for parents and daycare workers.

Police then raided the daycare on Friday (24/4/2026).

To date, at least 53 children are indicated to have experienced abuse out of 103 children entrusted there.

The DIY Regional Police have now named 13 individuals as suspects and immediately detained them.

The suspects consist of various elements in the institution, from leadership to field staff.