'Eradicate poverty to protect children'

'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