Indonesian children: The echo of lost voices

Text and photos by Agus Y. Ranu

JAKARTA (JP): It is often said that children own the future. Challenging this is the wreckage of dreams in instances of exploitation, molestation, rape and street violence.

Indonesia yesterday celebrated Children's Day, a salutation to our little patriots who tread on life with defying persistence. This year has also been declared the Year of Child Protection.

In spite of the reforms made to children's rights, condemnable acts still occur. Streets are paved with hundreds of thousands of children working as shoe shiners, beggars, newspaper boys, office boys, all living a hand-to-mouth existence.

Motley groups of these children work to cope with a world big enough to produce more of their kind, but too small to sustain their meager needs. Their struggle goes unnoticed. Harsh realities are glaringly obvious, even in our fast-paced lives. Children are run down and hauled in, sometimes tortured, by security officers.

Violations of children's rights often creates social misfits who turn to violence, criminal apathy and indisciplinary acts.

The protection of children's rights is crucial. These rights embody the right to live, to develop in decent surroundings, the right of protection and the right to participate. The foremost priority lies with street children in villages and cities, those working at back-breaking jobs, and those working in the streets. The need in no way can be enforced through morality preachings, symbolistic behavior or even "getting rid" of the children.

It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words. These pictures, hopefully, will convey the heart-rending message.