Govt installs child care commission
Govt installs child care commission
Dewi Santoso, Jakarta
The government introduced on Tuesday the Commission on the
Protection of Indonesian Children (KPAI), which will help the
government draw up child-protection policies.
State Minister for Women's Empowerment Sri Redjeki Soemaryoto
said the protection of children required special attention.
"That is where the KPAI comes in. The commission will think,
say and do only what is best for children," she said.
Sri Redjeki installed the nine members of the commission, who
were selected by the House of Representatives in accordance with
Law No. 23/2002 on child protection.
The introduction of the new commission comes three days before
National Children's Day on July 23.
The state minister said the establishment of the KPAI would
not sideline non-governmental organizations and other government
bodies that fought for children's rights, including the National
Commission for Child Protection (Komnas Anak).
"The KPAI may need to collaborate with NGOs, including Komnas
Anak, to address child issues," she said.
Komnas Anak was established in 1998 based on a decree issued
by the minister of social affairs, who appointed 11 members to
the commission. Sri Redjeki said the government had no plan to
revoke the decree following the establishment of the KPAI.
However, the office manager of Komnas Anak, Rachma Fitriati,
raised questions about the formation of the KPAI.
"Unlike Komnas Anak, the KPAI members were selected by the
House of Representatives instead of through a national forum.
There was no transparency whatsoever in the selection process,
which leads us to question the independence of the KPAI," Rachma
said.
Out of 140 applicants for the KPAI, the government short-
listed 18 candidates, who went through a series of tests last
year, and submitted their names to the House
Asked whether Komnas Anak would take any legal action to fight
the establishment of the KPAI, Rachma said: "We will let the
public judge."
As an independent body, the KPAI has three basic duties: to
educate the public about child protection laws, to accept any
complaints and gather data and information in response to these
complaints, and to submit recommendations to the government.
The nine members of the KPAI will serve a three-year term.
They will soon meet to choose a chairperson, two deputy chairs
and a secretary.
Members of the KPAI
Name Background
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Kusumo Priyono community figure
Andarus Darahim government
Zarfiel Taffal children's organizations
Lily Rilantono social organizations
Enny R. Badawi interest groups
Ibnu Anshori religious community
Susilahati professional organizations
Sri Wuryaningsih business community
Magdalena Sitorus non-governmental organizations