Klaten Awards Child-Friendly Status to Villages, Sub-Districts, and Agencies

The Klaten Regency Government has presented awards to Regional Apparatus Organisations (OPD), sub-districts, and villages/sub-districts designated as Child-Friendly, alongside the inauguration of the Klaten Regency Children’s Forum for 2026-2028. The event, held at the Klaten Regency Pendapa on Tuesday (21/7), was part of the 42nd National Children’s Day (HAN) commemoration for the regency. The commemoration was attended by the Regent of Klaten, the Chairperson of the Klaten Regency TP PKK, a Unicef representative, assistants and expert staff, heads of OPDs, regional-owned enterprises (BUMD), sub-district heads, and village/sub-district heads. The Head of the Klaten Regency DissosP3AKPPKB, Puspo Enggar Hastuti, stated that National Children’s Day serves as a momentum to strengthen collaboration among all stakeholders in fulfilling children’s rights and providing them with protection. “Through this activity, we aim to encourage synergy between the government, community institutions, the business sector, the education sector, mass media, and the public in fulfilling children’s rights and providing special protection for children,” she explained. Puspo added that this year’s HAN commemoration also served as a means of evaluating various efforts that have been undertaken, while voicing the spirit of ‘Sahabat Bersama Lindungi Anak’ (Friends Together Protect Children). On the occasion, Regent Hamenang Wajar Ismoyo inaugurated the Klaten Regency Children’s Forum for 2026–2028, followed by the presentation of 112 awards to Child-Friendly Villages/Sub-districts, Sub-districts, and OPDs. The Child-Friendly Village/Sub-district award was given to 84 villages/sub-districts, comprising 23 villages in the Rintisan (Pioneering) category, 27 in Pratama (Primary), 14 in Madya (Intermediate), 13 in Nindya (Advanced), and 7 in Utama (Main). The Child-Friendly Sub-district award was granted to 11 sub-districts, consisting of 3 in the Rintisan category, 5 in Pratama, 2 in Madya, and 1 in Nindya. Meanwhile, the Child-Friendly OPD award was given to 15 regional apparatus organisations, covering 5 OPDs in the Pratama category, 4 in Madya, and 6 in Nindya. In his remarks, the Regent of Klaten conveyed that National Children’s Day is an important moment to reaffirm the commitment to preparing the nation’s next generation. “Today is a happy and important moment for all of us. The best investment we can make is an investment in children. The future of Klaten Regency, and indeed Golden Indonesia 2045, is largely determined by how we treat and prepare our children from today,” he said. To the newly inaugurated management of the Klaten Regency Children’s Forum for the 2026-2028 period, Regent Hamenang Wajar Ismoyo advised them to carry out two main roles: as pioneers and as reporters. As pioneers, the Children’s Forum is expected to become agents of change capable of encouraging their peers to engage in positive activities, avoid drug abuse, reject all forms of bullying, and use technology and social media wisely. As reporters, the Children’s Forum should encourage all children not to be afraid to speak up if they know, see, or experience a violation of children’s rights. “Be our eyes and ears. If you see, hear, or experience a violation against children, do not be afraid to speak out and report it to parents, teachers, the village or sub-district government, or child protection services,” he asserted. The Regent of Klaten also stressed that realising a Child-Friendly Regency is a shared responsibility that cannot be placed solely on one regional apparatus. “The commitment to realising a Child-Friendly Regency must become a collective movement. We want all OPDs to have child-friendly programmes, sub-districts to provide safe facilities for children, and villages/sub-districts to have child-friendly spaces to support children’s growth and development,” he said.