KPAI Calls for Permanent Closure of Yogyakarta Daycare Following Alleged Child Abuse
JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The Indonesian Commission for Child Protection (KPAI) has called for the permanent closure of Little Aresha daycare in Yogyakarta City following a case of alleged abuse against dozens of children.
“And of course, KPAI hopes that this daycare will be closed permanently,” said KPAI Commissioner Diyah Puspitarini when contacted by Kompas.com on Sunday (26/4/2026).
She also requested that the Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK) intervene to provide protection to the victims’ families, following reports that they had been approached by unidentified individuals.
“Regarding this case, KPAI hopes that in accordance with Child Protection Law Article 59A, children receiving special protection should have a swift legal process, with victim children receiving psychosocial support, social assistance, and legal protection,” she stated.
Diyah explained that the Yogyakarta case differs from findings in other regions because it is alleged to have been carried out systematically, including patterns of limiting children’s interaction with parents.
“It was carried out massively by the caregivers, so it seems there were instructions. Therefore, it needs to be investigated up to the leadership and the foundation’s owners because this incident has been ongoing for a long time, repeated, and intense,” she said.
Furthermore, Diyah called for the children who are victims to immediately receive psychological support.
“It is necessary to immediately provide psychological support to the children at that daycare, even if there are children under one year old; if they have seen and experienced it, they also need support,” she said.
Based on preliminary data from law enforcement, the number of children registered at the facility reaches 103 children. As many as 53 of them are suspected to have experienced physical violence or inhumane treatment.
The Head of Public Relations of the DIY Regional Police, Senior Commissioner Ihsan, stated that the detention of 13 suspects is a form of police commitment to protecting the nation’s next generation.
“We are in a half marathon, step by step; certainly, 13 suspects have been designated, including the school principal, the foundation chair, and the caregivers at the location. It could develop further, depending on the development process and possibly additional statements from the 13 who are currently secured,” Ihsan said on Sunday (26/4/2026).