'Eradicate poverty to protect children'

Sectarian conflicts, terrorist attacks, street crimes and other forms of violence have the greatest effect on children, the silent victims who have to find a way to deal with the traumatic experience. In observance of National Children's Day, which fell on July 23, The Jakarta Post talked to some Jakartans on the rights of children that are still neglected.

Rani, 25, is a postgraduate student at a state university in Depok, Bogor. She lives with her relatives in Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta:

I think what children need first and foremost, besides nutrition and basic health services, is education.

The government has taken the right step in making the first nine years of education compulsory, but should do more to support it, such as allocating sufficient funds from the state budget toward education.

I'm all in favor for the 20 percent budget allocation as stipulated in the Education Law, and I hope most of it can be channeled to providing free education. Another 20 percent should be set aside for children's nutrition and health service.

Besides ensuring that the funds are not abused, the government should also ensure that the education system will truly help children's development. Children should not be given materials indoctrinating hatred, for example, because they would grow up being hateful people.

Speaking of hatred, children should also be protected from all forms of violence and exploitation, like having to work and not being able to go to school. I think there are already laws and regulations on this, but we should all push the government to really enforce them.

Children should be children, and should have the right to enjoy their childhood free from the troubles and distress of the adult world.

Arman, 27, teaches at a private university in Grogol, West Jakarta. He lives with his brothers in Bidara Cina, East Jakarta:

In observance of National Children's Day, we should all take a moment to look back on how our children have fared so far and show more attention to their needs, because children are the nation's future. How we raise them and treat them today will define our nation tomorrow.

We should therefore condemn and prevent any inhumane treatment of children, such as child smuggling or child labor.

As for the government, it should not stop at ceremonial, lip- service promises to improve the condition of children, but actually do something about it.

We have also seen that most child abuse cases are rooted in poverty. Therefore, the government should also intensify its efforts to eradicate poverty, if it wants to protect its children from further abuse and violence.

--The Jakarta Post