Children need more protection from the state

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Freedom from any form of exploitation topped children's demands conveyed to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono during the National Children's Day celebration on Sunday.

The children. summing up their three-day congress, also asked the government to set up a new ministry tasked with dealing with children's issues and to take serious measures to enforce Law No. 23/2002 on child protection.

"Many Indonesian children are at risk of falling victim to commercial sexual exploitation and forced labor on the streets, while the government has failed to address the problems," the children said in a statement read by Andra Septian and Rustio Riskandaru before the President and several Cabinet ministers attending the celebration at Taman Mini Indonesia in East Jakarta.

The government was also criticized for failing to protect children in conflict-prone areas, such as Maluku and Aceh, where many children witnessed or were victims of violence.

The recent malnutrition cases which resulted in the deaths of dozens of children were further proof of the government's failure to protect children, they said.

"We expect the government to provide healthy food for children nationwide so they will not suffer from malnutrition, and provide free medical care," the statement said.

Free education, which the government has conceded unlikely due to the oil subsidy, was another demand the children voiced before the President.

Poverty is blamed for the failure of one in every five Indonesian children under 15 to obtain an education, according to a recent survey conducted by the International Labor Organization.

The children also asked the government to change the juvenile penitentiary into an institution that provides "assistance and protection for children who are dealing with legal matters" and grant special remission to juvenile inmates.

Responding to the demands, Susilo said the government and the legislators had agreed to reallocate the fuel subsidy for education and health care, although he acknowledged it would not materialize in the near future.

During the commemoration, the President presented awards to Andi Juanda, 15, a junior high school student from Padang, West Sumatra, Asti Utami, 17, a senior high school student from Palembang, South Sumatra, for their contribution to the promotion of children's rights and Bela Diniyah Putri, 13, a junior high school student from Lampung for her efforts to fight for children's rights through music and sports.

Later in the day, the children joined thousands of others at Ancol Dreamland in North Jakarta to continue the celebration.

First Lady Kristiani Herawati stole the show in the televised event when she read a story for the children. Kristiani asked the children in her 15-minute story to express their thoughts and feelings.

Kristiani also asked the children to support the government campaign for energy conservation by reducing lighting at night and avoiding watching TV and playing computer games.