Deputy Speaker of MPR Urges Protection System for Women and Children in Digital Realm

Deputy Speaker of the Indonesian Parliament (MPR) Lestari Moerdijat (Rerie) has emphasised that digital development must be accompanied by adequate protection systems for citizens, particularly women and children, against various online threats.

“Digital development does not merely bring technology that facilitates human activity. Conversely, digitalisation also presents threats to women and children, necessitating an appropriate protection system,” Moerdijat stated in her remarks on Sunday, 1 March 2026.

Moerdijat cited data from the Ministry of Women Empowerment and Child Protection (KPPPA), which indicates that 9 out of 10 children aged five and above in Indonesia are already active internet users. She noted that whilst digital transformation has changed how women and children learn, work, and interact, the increased internet penetration must be balanced with concrete protective measures.

Moerdijat also stressed the importance of implementing online protection policies that have already been enacted. She cited Government Regulation Number 17 of 2025 on the Governance of Electronic Systems in Child Protection (PP Tunas), which will take effect in March 2026. According to her, this regulation must be applied effectively as part of efforts to build a protection system in the digital realm.

She warned that the impact of digital violence can be felt directly by victims, including women and children, potentially damaging their reputation, harming mental health and education, and threatening physical safety.

For this reason, Moerdijat believes that threats in the digital realm must be addressed collectively by stakeholders and society. She encouraged strengthening digital literacy and understanding of protection policies to make the digital space safer.

Moerdijat hopes that a secure digital environment can support development acceleration whilst helping to prepare a competitive generation for the future.