Child Violence Remains an Iceberg Phenomenon, Early Childhood Teachers Seen as Key to Prevention
Violence against children remains a serious issue that has yet to be fully addressed in Indonesia. Many cases are suspected of never being reported, meaning the recorded number of victims does not reflect the true situation. Amid weakening family resilience, Early Childhood Education (PAUD) teachers are considered to have a strategic role as the front line in detecting and preventing violence against children.
Public health expert from the YARSI University Faculty of Medicine, Dr. Maya Trisiswati, stated that data from the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) recorded 2,063 child victims of violence throughout 2025. However, she believes this figure represents only a small fraction of actual cases.
"The recorded data is likely still far below the actual number of incidents. Many cases go unreported, making it an iceberg phenomenon," Maya said on Wednesday.
According to Maya, the high mobility of urban communities, particularly in Jakarta, forces many parents to work at a relentless pace. This condition weakens the family’s function as the primary protective space for children. She noted that KPAI findings also show most cases of violence against children occur within the family or alternative care settings.
"Family resilience is not yet optimal, especially in providing protection for early childhood. Yet the family is the first fortress in preventing violence," she said.
Maya explained that young children are the most vulnerable group because they lack the ability to protect themselves and are completely dependent on adults. This vulnerability is even greater when victims are between three and five years old or at the PAUD level. In some cases, families even choose to cover up incidents of violence to protect their reputation, causing delays in handling victims.
Additionally, the low level of parental understanding regarding reproductive health is seen as a challenge in prevention efforts. Meanwhile, children do not yet have the ability to recognise threats to their reproductive organs, making them easier targets for perpetrators.
Therefore, Maya believes PAUD teachers hold a strategic position to build children’s awareness while acting as partners to parents in protection efforts. "Preventing violence against children cannot be the burden of a single party. It requires the involvement of families, communities, the government, educational institutions, and the media to create a safe environment for children," she said.
As part of strengthening teacher capacity, YARSI University, through its Centre for Prosperous Family Services (Satgatra/PPKS), held a two-day training session on preventing violence against young children in Cipinang Cempedak Urban Village, East Jakarta. The training covered various forms of violence against children, prevention measures, and initial handling when suspected cases are found. Based on evaluation results, the average knowledge score of participants increased from 56 to 70.
The programme also involved parents in the evaluation stage to determine the extent to which material received by children at school could be applied in the family environment. Teachers were also asked to document various challenges faced when delivering the material to students.
Maya assessed that prevention efforts can only run effectively if all stakeholders share the same commitment to protecting children. "Good collaboration between the community, academics, and the government is a strong foundation for creating a safe space for children to grow and develop optimally and be protected from violence," she said. She stressed that all forms of violence against children are intolerable. "Zero tolerance for violence against children, for any reason, at any time, and anywhere," Maya concluded.